How Much Water Do I Need For My Livestock?

The amount of water you need depends on your herd size, species, and conditions. Here’s some guidance that may help for livestock.

Start with daily needs per animal (average):

• Beef cow: 10–20 gallons/day

• Sheep/goat: 1–4 gallons/day

• Horse: 5–15 gallons/day

Multiply by herd size.

Example: 50 beef cows × 15 gallons each = 750 gallons/day.

Double it for safety.

Animals drink more in hot weather, with dry feed, or when lactating. Designing for 2× average keeps you safe.

Using the example above: 50 cows could need up to 1,500 gallons/day in summer.

Check flow rate as well as volume.
Livestock often drink in groups, so your trough and pump must handle surge demand, not just daily totals.