AquaCow At-a-glance

Steel tank  $4,200

Stainless tank  $5,800

I. SALES

www.downcow.com/aquacow/sales/sales.html

Each Aqua Cow tank includes these attachments:
dragmat, mounted winch, aluminum feed rack, stainless ramp, canvas tarp & 3 overhead brackets, quick-connect ball valve, hand truck, extra door seal. Any attachments can be discounted if not needed.

Discounts:

• $200 with full payment upon delivery
• unneeded attachments

A note about the recent steep rise in the cost of stainless steel and the choice between a stainless and a steel tank.

Aqua Cow now makes both stainless and steel tanks. The price difference is wide enough now to offer a choice.

Stainless tanks, which stay like new for the long term and keep a high resale, may still be the better value for customers like custom services that use tanks frequently and leave them all over the place.

Steel tanks (painted red w/ aluminum doors) might be the better deal for owners like large dairies that use tanks less often and can keep them clean and dry. At a $1,600 savings, these customers can expect the same utility for years ahead.
.

Tank Dimensions:

Some farms with traditional barns need to know that the Aqua Cow tank, in transport position (wheels engaged), is 6.75 ft. wide. This may matter if the cow needs to be floated in the barn during the winter cold. In tight fitting places, the trailer can be rolled away, leaving tank itself - just 4 ft. wide.

• weight (w/o heater) 1700 lbs
• approx size 4' x 4' x 8'
• inside container: 93'L x 50'H x 43'W
• dragmat 42' x 88' (slides cow inside)
• with trailer: 135'L x 78'W

New: built-in electric water heater

add $600 (needs to be ordered in advance)
Purpose: to maintain water at body temperature in frigid weather

Explanation: At 10 - 15 degrees F it's surprising how a cow, covered by a heavy canvas tarp, will heat her own bath. The water will be lukewarm after a 12 hr. stay. However, at colder temperatures the water will cool too much and supplemental heat is needed.

Description: The heater is a part of the tank itself & incorporated into the mfg. process.
A water jacket is welded on the outside of the Aqua Cow tank. Inside the heater, two 3000/w heating elements circulate water by convection. A waterproof thermostat and relay switch control the elements; an optional float switch activates the heater only when water reaches a certain level. 240V (milk truck plug in); 40 amp capacity; 22K btus.
www.downcow.com/aquacow/sales/built-inwaterheater
Also in this section: do-it-yourself options - shop heaters set against the side of the tank.

Distribution points:

1. from southeast PA (mfg. GAP, PA) call: 802-633-4331
2. from southeast WI. Schwendimann Cow Floating L.L.C. ph: 262-673-4377

Lancaster County, PA, where our Aqua Cow tanks are made, is a busy farm equipment mfg. region. For 1/3 the cost of a national carrier, our shop can usually find space on a truck going to your area.

References:

Call 802-633-4331 to ask about contacting experienced customers with farms or businesses like yours. Also check out operations similar to yours on the downcow website, www.downcow.com/aquacow/customerprofiles. Large dairies, "family" dairies, buyer groups, custom operators, dairy vet clinics, large animal clinics

About the Company: Aqua Cow Rise System / North America

Contact:

Sandy Ingraham
Phone: 802-633-4331

email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Aqua Cow / North America is one of two U.S. companies licensed by Aqua Cow Denmark, owner and holder of the U.S. and European patents. Kirby Mfg. in Merced, CA makes and distributes Aqua Cow tanks on the West Coast (west of the Rockies). Our territory is everywhere else.

However - customers still have a choice. The two dealers offer different tanks. Dimensions are identical because models are made from the same blueprint, but materials, attachments, and prices differ. This is just the way it has evolved. A customer from the Midwest should check with us first, but may prefer the tank & price from Kirby in CA. Or a customer from the West Coast, after comparing, can buy our model.

Our Aqua Cow tanks are made by Farm-Bilt Machine in GAP, PA. Besides their excellent workmanship, they make most of the shipping arrangements. A network of custom cow floaters advise on business decisions. Since 1994 we've added the aluminum doors, winch, feed rack, and water heater to the original Danish model. The stainless steel tank is the latest change.

II. How Aqua Cow works

For complete instructions go to www.downcow.com/aquacow/howtofloat

• Time it takes: under an hour (depending on where the cow is and needs to be taken).

• Back the tank to the cow and remove the end doors. Move the cow on the drag mat, and then pull her into the tank with the winch or a tractor. Remount the end doors. If the cow is to be floated at another location, tow her there in the tank. Pull the pins that raise the wheels and drop the tank on the ground. Pump in body temperature water. The cow senses increasing ballast and uses it to stand up. After she stands, the water level will drop. Keep filling to near the top of the front door, or to a comfortable level for small animals.

• Cows standing without difficulty and that resume eating should stay in from 8 - 14 hrs. If the animal struggles and can't stand easily after 20 minutes,then drain the water. Either youíve diagnosed a problem needing treatment before floating, or you’ve found a hidden, serious injury that probably canít be fixed.

Besides the Aqua Cow tank, what else is needed?

Labor:

Two people (unless another person is needed briefly to roll a heavy cow on the dragmat). Custom cow floaters provide the crucial 2nd person at smaller dairies.

Towing vehicle:

The hand truck maneuvers the Aqua Cow tank easily around the barn, even with a cow inside. The mounted winch can pull the cow into the Aqua Cow tank. Therefore the Aqua Cow tank is all thatís needed in some cases. However, for longer trips around the farm, itís easier to use an ATV, skid steer or tractor to tow the tank and/or to pull the cow inside.

Warm Water:

www.downcow.com/aquacow/warmwater/
Floating a cow is fast and straightforward if the needed volume of warm water is ready to be pumped into the Aqua cow tank. A routine, trouble-free method of heating and delivering the water must be arranged before getting an Aqua Cow tank.

Most large dairies are already set-up to float a cow if hose(s) from their milk house can deliver warm water @ > 20gpm. (More details below.) Farms without this capacity need water equipment, which creates the need and opportunity for a custom operator.

Volume / Temperature / Pressure:

Approx. 650 gallons of 100F / 37C (body temperature) pumped at a minimum of 20gpm. But the standard way is using a 2' pump @150+gpm.

Equipment to heat, store, and pump the warm water:

People use different set-ups depending upon what they already have. As mentioned, large dairies bypass the need for extra equipment by combining water from their plate-cooler & hot water tank. Most farms need:

1. A holding tank
2. A small gas pump with about 25 ft. of 2' hoses and quick-connects
3. A local source, or shop heater, for hot water
   see www.downcow.com/aquacow/waterequipment

Truck or trailer to transport water:

At least a 3/4 ton truck, or a 2 axle trailer with tires to support 3 tons of water.

Water questions:

How fast should the water be pumped?

The faster the better. Slower than 20gpm is too slow, taking 30 minutes or more to fill the tank and perhaps frustrating the cow if she repeatedly attempts to stand without enough ballast. In contrast, @ 150gpm from a 3.5 hp 2' pump, the cow will feel the lift within 3 or 4 minutes, and tank will be full in 5 minutes.

Does the water temperature have to be 100F / 37C (body temp)?

It's OK to get a cow up in 80F water as long as the temperature is soon raised to body temp. It's typical for large dairies to run plate cooler water simultaneously with a hose from the hot water tank, and then just top off with hot water. During hot summer weather slightly cooler water is OK and probably welcome. On the other hand, don't end up with water a few degrees too hot!! If you can't keep your arm in the water for 15 seconds, think of the captive cow. It's a big volume of water and it takes a long time to drop the temperature.

How does the water stay warm?

A big cow heats her own bath and a covering canvas tarp helps to retain heat. Most people are surprised to see that the water remains lukewarm after an overnight stay with temperatures in the teens. In frigid weather, a new built-in electric water heater maintains the water at body temperature. Or a propane shop heater can be set next to the tank if done responsibly.

What about getting mastitis in the warm, dirty water?

No problems reported. As one vet says, “They're better off in the hot tub than where they were.”

What if the farm can't produce enough warm water?

These are the farms that should be served by custom cow floaters. If a tank is available but you need a source for warm water, then check out local industries: concrete businesses, creameries, industrial plants etc. It's very important to have all the water ready to pump. Whatever you do, donít put the cow in the tank and try filling it with a garden hose, with timeouts waiting for the hot water tank to recover. The cow will be lying in a puddle for too long and may thrash or exhaust herself.

WHEN TO USE THE AQUA COW TANK

Knowing WHEN to use an Aqua Cow tank is the crucial skill. This is why our web site is called “DOWNCOW” instead of AQUACOW, and why it puts such emphasis on veterinary screening. Only good candidates should be floated. However those with immediate access to a tank know the value of using it to access the cow's problems.

What about success rates?

Custom operators doing more than 100 cows/yr report a 70% success rate when a vet sees the cow first. Two different studies at veterinary colleges show similar results.

It's FRUSTRATING, however, to hear some people conclude that "It didn't work on my cow." (one of the 30% that wasn't helped). The reality is that the cow in the water can reveal a serious problem that wasn't diagnosed when she was down. The tank always does its job, good news or bad. Scroll through this sample advice from dairy vets.

Maine vet Pete Caradonna offers his perspective:

"The tank is a valuable diagnostic tool. If the cow doesn't respond to this, then you have recognized it early, without wasting a lot of time… If she cannot stand in the buoyancy of warm water, there is little point in continuing with her. Either she has a severe, irreparable injury (fracture, spinal), or she is too weak because of some underlying illness (mastitis, hypocalcaemia, fatty liver). The point is, if she can be saved, she will stand when the water is added."

Which cows are good candidates?

"Basically you're trying to reduce down to hidden nerve and musculoskeletal injuries that should respond to hydrotherapy."

Steve Mills DVM
Monroe, N.H.

“Cattle that are recumbent from primary musculoskeletal injuries are typically bright and alert. Profound depression in a recumbent animal is often indicative of severe systemic diseases of infectious, toxic, or metabolic origin. Evaluation of the neurologic system is indicated in cases showing profound depression.”

Dr. David Van Metre Colorado State University
Dr. Robert Callan Colorado State University

Dr. Bradford Smith, UC Davis, incorporates these views with this prescription:

"For practical purposes, downer cows can be divided into two groups:
1. Group #1 - those with abnormal vital signs and/or severe injury
2. Group #2 - alert and eating animals which simply cannot rise

Group #2 cows can benefit immediately from hours of comfortable standing and eating. Group #1 cows cannot. First they need to be diagnosed, treated, and moved to Group #2.

The cows which should be floated are alert downers, dystocias (calving paralysis) and non-responsive milk fevers. Before floating, the basic exam should rule out coliform mastitis, septic metritis, torn uterus (with or without retained placenta) fractures, dislocated hip and torn-up stifle joint. Vets should also rule out anemia from bleeding abomasal ulcer, peritonitis, and pneumonia."

Why do healthy looking cows stay down?

University vets imply why many injuries might respond to hydrotherapy.

"There are numerous primary causes, but secondary pressure damage is a factor common to all downer animals."

Vic Cox U Minn

"Often we find a clinical reason for recumbancy such as metabolic disturbance electrolyte abnormality. But once this condition has been resolved, the cow remains down. The best explanation is that the initial recumbancy leads to pressure damage to muscles and nerves... The muscles that arenít damaged cause the animal to struggle, causing further muscle tearing and hemorrhage. The resulting swelling cuts the blood supply, causing further damage."

Paul Lunn, U Wisconsin

(Milk fever is a typical case. After being treated, the down cow is alert, eating, and willing, but she still can’t get up. The probable cause is pressure damage or injury caused by struggling.)

“There are a lot of reasons why cows will go down, but in all cases the longer they stay down, the less likely they will ever get up again. Getting these cows into the tank as soon as possible is the key to success. The effects are often dramatic - it is quickly obvious which cows you can help, and which you can’t. Either way, the ACRS is humane and very cost effective for today’s busy dairyman."

Steve Mills DVM
Rick Price DVM

What injuries can be diagnosed while the cow is in the Aqua Cow tank that might not have been caught beforehand?

Examples of problems not evident when she was down: “hip luxation; femoral fracture; severe, localized swelling; paralysis [ broken back]; torn uteris.”

Gilles Fecteau, U Montreal

“Once standing in warm water, it is often obvious which limbs are paretetic or painful. Most cows relax and eat hay. Even [unhandled] 1st calf heifers seem remarkably calmed by warm water.”

Bradford Smith, UC Davis

IV HUMANE RECOGNITION

Aqua Cow won the top award for animal welfare in France - Yr 2000
From: Groupe France Agricole
Category: Sante Animale
To: Aqua Cow - aide pour relever les vaches couches
Award: Inel d'Or 2000