12 Best Cow Troughs | Do You Really Need Troughs for Your Cows?

A cow drinks 30 to 50 gallons of water a day, so a clean, well-placed trough is not optional — cattle refuse dirty or unappetizing water, and that quickly costs you growth, milk, and condition. The right trough keeps water clean, holds enough for the herd, and survives being shoved around.

Do you really need troughs for your cow? Cow troughs are needed when raising cows because they can ensure clean water. You should know that they won’t likely drink less appetizing water. It usually happens among cows that just arrived on the farm. So, their palate needs to adjust to the new water quality.

You have to keep the cattle from contaminated water, or else, their health and performance will deteriorate. If it happens, there will be losses in production.

Upon knowing that cow troughs are essential when raising cows, you have to get one that suits your farm’s needs. You’re on the right page as it’s featured here.

Quick Answer: The Best Cow Troughs

• Best big galvanized stock tank: the Behlen Country 165-gallon round galvanized tank — rugged, holds plenty for a small herd, and stands up to cattle abuse.
• Best heavy-duty poly tank: the Rubbermaid Commercial stock tank — tough, won’t rust or dent, and easy to drain and scrub.
• Best automatic / float-fed: the Little Giant Trough-O-Matic — refills itself via a float valve so the trough never runs dry.
• Best portable / small setup: the High Country Plastics 40-gallon and PortaTrough options — light enough to move with rotational grazing.
• How to size it: a cow drinks 30–50 gallons a day; allow about 3–5 inches of water-trough space per animal (one long trough can serve ~20 cows), keep it within ~50 feet of where they rest, and clean it weekly.

How we picked: we compared cow troughs and stock tanks on material and durability (galvanized vs. poly vs. concrete), capacity, safety (no sharp edges), ease of cleaning, and whether they support a float valve for automatic refilling — then matched each to a real use-case rather than ranking on price. As an Amazon Associate we may earn from qualifying purchases.

What Do Cow Troughs Look Like? What Are They Used For?

Cow troughs are in different sizes because they can be either used temporarily or permanently to supply water for cows. They are in different forms as some can be rectangular, and there are bowl troughs.

A cow trough can keep water from contamination which is harmful to the cattle. The location of the troughs should not be more than 50 feet away from the cows.

Apart from being a container for cow’s drinking water, a cow trough can also be used as a water treatment that contains sulfate salts or chloride. This is a way to prevent grass tetany among cattle during spring and fall. Water treatment can work with pumps and dispensers.

What to Consider When Buying Cow Troughs?

Materials and Safety

Cow troughs can be in different materials such as concrete, metal, fiberglass, plastic, and polyethylene. Fiberglass is the weakest among them, and it can crack easily. If it happens, some sharp edges can hurt your cows.

Although cattle are not fast-moving animals they can push hard with their weight. Different weather can also have effects on the troughs. For instance, freezing weather can create cracks in the trough.

You also have to be concerned about copper and metal as they can discharge zinc into the water, especially when rainwater gets into the trough. Rainwater can increase acidity but if you have a concrete trough, there will be some lime to lower it.

If you pick a plastic trough, make sure that it’s made of food-grade material so no unwanted substance will mix into the water.

Size

Each cow should be given 3 linear inches of water space, so several cattle can stand and drink without interruption. This requirement will help you determine the necessary trough length. 

Best Cow Troughs Review

Rubbermaid Commercial FG424288BLA

This is a stock tank that is undoubtedly suitable as a cow trough. With its 100 gallon capacity, it can meet the needs of your cows. Due to its structural foam and seamless construction, it’s durable, so it’s not easily damaged by weathering or cracking. Cleaning and maintenance are a breeze since there’s a drain plug.

32-inch Buhbo Modern Trough Rectangle Planter

There’s a lot of space for a few cows from its 32-inch length. It’s composed of stainless steel grade 304 with a brushed finish for a sleek and modern look. Hence, it’s just right to say that it’s sturdy and sure to last.

Tuff Stuff Products KMT99 HD

Worrying about a broken cow trough is a waste of time if you have a heavy-duty item like this. It has a rubber-like, oval body that showcases sturdiness. The composition of this tank is environmentally friendly because it’s from recycled material. When it comes to capacity, this tank is great as it can hold 140 gallons.

High Country Plastics 40GAL Aqua

The dimension of this tank makes it a reliable cow trough. Also, its construction is ideal for its purpose. Its resistance against impact is impressive, so it doesn’t crack or break easily. The credit goes to its poly construction.

APlayfulBee Stainless Steel Automatic Waterer Bowl

This is an on-the-go automatic waterer you can mount on a wall, post, or rail, so your cows never go thirsty — a float valve keeps the bowl topped up to a set level on its own. It’s made of 304 stainless steel that resists corrosion and rust, comes with a water-supply pipe and a 3/4″ hose adaptor, and is easy to wipe clean, so it holds up to daily farm use.

Behlen Country R42 165-Gallon Galvanized Round Tank

The toughness of this tank is remarkable as it’s built to withstand even the harshest farm or ranch conditions. Thus, every part is meticulously designed for the needed strength to make it lasting. The ribs and sidewalls are rigid, while the bottom part is heavily galvanized. For more support, there’s a steel tube rolled on its top. It has a dimension that’s perfect for holding the water for your cows.

APlayfulBee Automatic Waterer Bowl with Float Valve and Drain Plug

This is another dependable automatic bowl, built from 304 stainless steel that shrugs off daily wear, corrosion, and rust. Its float valve keeps a constant water level so your cows won’t run out, and a drain plug at the bottom lets you empty and scrub it quickly between fills. It can sit on the ground or be wall-mounted with the included hardware.

Bon Toll 11-409 Tub Utility

This tub is ideal for a temporary water trough as you can easily move or turn it around. Still, you need to put duct tape on the lower part for protection when dragging it. Amazingly, it can withstand -20 degrees Fahrenheit.

PortaTrough 5 – Portable Feed Water Trough

As a portable trough, you can easily turn it upside down by using the handle. This also means easy cleaning. It has a good construction too as it’s made of heavy-duty polyethylene. That’s why it can survive all weather conditions. Even though the water freezes, this trough remains intact.

Rubbermaid Commercial Products FG424700BLA Stock Tank

Touching this tank will tell you that it’s sturdy because it’s thick and well-built. It’s also massive, with a capacity of 300 gallons, but draining is so easy. You can find its strength in withstanding the cold winter days.

Little Giant Trough-O-Matic Stock Water Tank

You don’t have to waste time checking the cow trough from time to time if you have this water tank. It can make automatic refills as it can detect the water level. It can deliver 245 gallons of water per hour. This tank is durable since it has a heavy-duty aluminum housing, which won’t easily give in to damage and elements.

Little Giant Poly Oval Stock Tank (15 Gallon)

This 15-gallon oval poly tank is a handy small trough or tub for calves, a few head, or a creep-feeding setup. The oval shape eliminates corner stress, a molded-in rim makes it easy to grab and carry, and the thick molded polyethylene won’t rust or dent. It also has a 3/4″ drain plug that takes a garden hose, so cleaning and refilling are quick.

Frequently Asked Questions

How Many Water Troughs Does a Cow Need?

A cow only needs one trough. University of Kentucky Agriculture, Food and Environment even suggest that 20 cows can share a single, long trough given that the water space is 3 to 5 inches.

How Do You Set Up a Cattle Water Trough?

You have to connect the water trough to a water system. Moreover, it can be connected to a float valve which is installed with the water supply pipe controls.

The ideal flow rate is 5-8 l min−1 for every drinking cattle. In a loose housing system, a single trough is enough for 50 to 60 cows. The 4-5 l min−1 is applied, and the 0.6 m depth is good. 

How Do You Maintain Feeding Troughs?

Feeding troughs should be cleaned routinely. It must be done weekly with a mixture of 5 gallons of water and a cup of bleach. Scrub the trough to ensure that algae and small particles are removed.

Rinse thoroughly to ensure that bleach doesn’t adhere to the trough. It should be free from any substance before you make water refills.

Why is the End of a Trough Covered?

The end of a trough is covered to prevent contamination and control the water level.

What Height Should a Cattle Trough Be?

Ideally, the cattle should be 2 to 3 feet tall, with a fill rate of 2.5 gallons per minute.

Summary

Water goes hand in hand with grass, hay, and feed in promoting the welfare of cows. Choose a water trough that is sturdy enough to not easily break and withstand cold weather.

It shouldn’t be prone to breakage as the sharp part can hurt an animal. See to it that it can carry enough water. so your cows have enough to drink.

Related Cow Care Guides

Setting up your cattle? Keep going with the rest of our cow series:

• Best Cattle Waterers (Automatic)
• What to Feed Cows (Diet Guide)
• Buying Beef Cattle
• How Much Does a Cow Weigh?
• Cattle Guards Explained

List of Sources

Water Needs for the Dairy Herd

Managing Feedbunks and Water Troughs

Quality Water for Beef Cattle