Feedlot Owner Prevents Multiple Water Outages With a HerdHand

Feedlot owner, Kevin Woods, used to worry about unnoticed water outages. He discovered a monitoring tool called the HerdHand that has since allowed him to diagnose problems with his livestock water systems before there is a shortage for his cattle. Keep reading to learn more about Kevin’s story.

The Problem

Kevin Woods, owner of Westwood Land & Cattle LTD., runs a mixed grain, cow-calf, and feedlot operation near Moosomin, Saskatchewan. His feedlot relies on four well systems to supply water to livestock. He has faced many challenges surrounding water availability, including:

• Water outages when well systems fail, resulting in increased animal stress due to a backlog of livestock waiting for water.
• Weight loss due to reduced water intake, impacting his livestock’s health and the operation’s profitability.
• Difficulty in frequently monitoring water systems across such a large operation, leading to unnoticed issues.

Woods needed a solution to quickly detect and address problems to avoid outages for his livestock.

The Solution

Woods discovered the HerdHand Water Monitor, which offers:

• Real-time monitoring of water pressure, temperature, and levels.
• Instant alerts via text message during critical water events.

Woods chose to monitor the water pressure and the temperature in his well sheds so he could receive alerts if the pressure or temperature left their normal range. One thing that attracted Woods to the HerdHand was that it was a cellular-connected device, allowing for easy network connection. He also liked that one device could provide him with all the data he required to ensure his water systems were functioning properly at all times.

The Results

Since installing HerdHand Water Monitors at his well sheds, Woods has been able to detect problems such as:

• A Cracked Manifold
• Burst Pipes
• Water Leaks
• Pump Failures

These issues were diagnosed and dealt with in less than 15 minutes, preventing major water outages for his livestock. On top of this, the HerdHand gives Woods peace of mind while he is busy completing other tasks and maximizes the health and production of his animals.

Conclusion

Monitoring the water system at his feedlot has allowed Woods to detect and address any issues that can cause water outages, minimizing the stress on his livestock and himself. Not worrying about unexpected outages allows him to focus on the rest of his operation while knowing his livestock are meeting their daily water needs.

Protect your livestock and operation from water supply issues—try a HerdHand Water Monitor today!