Water borne diseases control in livestock through water troughs management system.

Abstract

Purpose : This study aimed at designing a water trough management system that controls water borne diseases in livestock that come due to openness of the troughs. The commonly used methods for water supply to the cattle such as motion detections in a motion detector water pump system, animal nose operation in animal operated nose pump system and automatic water fountains are exposed to external factors like droppings of birds, dust carried by wind that contaminate the water and cause waterborne diseases hence infecting their cattle. Methodology : A qualitative research method was employed by the study. Semi-structured in-depth interviews were conducted with farmers and experts in the field of cattle keeping. Findings : Findings indicate that this system proved to be a viable proof of concept design that could aid in boosting good health in cattle herds. The designed system when employed on the farms enables cattle access only clean water since the trough is ever closed. It only opens when the cattle have come to take water and then water begins flowing from the tank to it. The external factors have no access to the inside of the trough. The water pumped to the trough is clean and safe to drink. The remaining water that the animals have drunk on is considered dirty and is pumped out. Unique contribution to practice and policy: This paper suggests that a system based on this scheme could be utilized by both farmers and researchers to reduce the water borne diseases in cattle.