Watering System

Information about Your Automated Water System

Freedom Breeder Uses Quality Edstrom industries, INC Water Components

Water –The Key Nutrient

As a breeder and producer of specialty animals, you know the critical importance of making a clean supply of water available at all times. Water is the most critical nutrient in your livestock’s diet, making up 85% of the living body and serving many purposes

An animal can lose nearly all of its body fat and half its protein and stay alive. However, the loss of more than 10% of its water will cause death. Deprivation of water for even a few hours can stress an animal, leading to health problems and reduce performance in breeding stock. In the wild, animals obtain a major portion of their water in the natural foods they consume. But because the prepared feeds used in our facilities are low in moisture contents, your animals must drink more water to sustain its daily dietary water requirements.

Providing adequate quantities of clean, fresh water, accessible to the animals 24 hours a day, is crucial to the overall health of your livestock and production.

About Your watering System Components

Vari-Flo Drinking Valves

The Vari-Flo valve is precision machined from solid brass and can be easily disassembled for cleaning or replacement of parts. The small diameter of the stainless steel them that the animal must move to release water and the low force required to move it makes this valve ideal for use with even the smallest of creatures, such as weanling mice.

The rate that water discharges from the Vari-Flo valve can be adjusted over a wide range to best suit your animals and reduce the spillage of water into the cage as the animal drinks. The rate can be adjusted from a slow trickle, 20cc per minute, to a strong stream, 100cc per minute

Flex-Tube

The flex-Tube piping system is a very easy way to install and automated watering system that mounts directly to the outside of your cages. The tubing is a non-toxic and because it is black, it blocks light, preventing algae growth. Complete selections of barb connector fittings are available, permitting you to assemble your flex tube in any required configuration. The system can be easily rearranged, expanded or taken down

Guidelines for start up

Flushing the lines-On initial hookup of the water supply to a newly installed piping system, all lines should be thoroughly flushed to remove any particles of dirt or debris that may have fallen inside the pipe lines during assembly. If the lines are not flushed, then these particles will be carried into the drinking valve, where the6y may become lodged on the seal and cause a leak.

To flush the line, remove each valve, and allow water to flow out for several minutes. Repeat this procedure for each valve in your system. Start on lines that are closest to the water supply and work your way to those farthest away.

Actuate each Drinking Valve- To confirm the proper actuation of the drinking Valves, each one should be manually actuated and the flow of water observed. Air trapped in the short length of Flex-Tube between the valve and the lateral line will first be pushed out before water begins to flow evenly.

Confirm that your animals are drinking- after installing Water System; you must make sure that your livestock learns to use the drinking valve. To get them trained you must first remove other water sources from the cage. During the next 24 hours observe them carefully to determine if they are using the Drinking Valve. If you feel they are not finding and learning to use the drinking valves, manually activate the valves in front of them allowing a drop of water to “hang” from the valve. Continue to carefully observe tem to confirm they have learned to drink.

Winterization of a Watering System

This watering system has been designed for use in facilities not exposed to freezing temperatures. The use of electrical heat tapes with flex tube is NOT recommended. Some of the methods used by producers to deal with overnight freezing temperatures include:

-Turning off the water supply in the evening and allowing the animal to drink the system dry over night.

-Opening a valve at the end of each lateral line allowing a slow trickle of water to run continuously