The finished product. The tank full of water and the fence put back in to separate the pastures. I think it will work real good. there are a few leaks thanks to the hired hand not tightening the bolts enough but I will be able to fix that in another year. Taken 6/28/2006.
I apologize for asking stupid questions, but I'm a little surprised not to see a windmill in this photo. However, I do see a pressure tank, which to my simple mind indicates a pump powered with a gasoline or diesel motor -- or electric? Are windmills not used on Montana ranches? (Bear in mind that I grew up in Nebraska where there's several windmills in every pasture.)
It's not a stupid question, the only stupid question is the question unasked.
Windmills don't work well in this country due to the wind not being constant enough. You will go days on end with out wind which just doesn't work for cattle. They can't go days on end with no water.
What you are seeing that you called a pressure tank is a 250 gal propane tank. I use propane powered generator that is float controlled to automatically turn on and turn off whenever necessary to water the cattle and keep the tank full. I have found them to be the easiest, most cost efficient, way to keep water in front of the cattle. There is a growing trend of them being used in the area now.
Depending on the depth of the well, your most cost effective, and low maintenance system with a tank that size would be a solar system. Once installed there is little to no maintenance and sunlight is free. (In good humor, (there is no such thing as a stupid question, just stupid people ask the questions.):-)
Windmills don't work well in this country due to the wind not being constant enough. You will go days on end with out wind which just doesn't work for cattle. They can't go days on end with no water.
What you are seeing that you called a pressure tank is a 250 gal propane tank. I use propane powered generator that is float controlled to automatically turn on and turn off whenever necessary to water the cattle and keep the tank full. I have found them to be the easiest, most cost efficient, way to keep water in front of the cattle. There is a growing trend of them being used in the area now.