What to do and Why

Larger Aqua Cow tanks coming in 2011

insert picture …ST HY BIG COW.jpeg

Caption: This red steel tank was made in 1996. Tanks made after 2002, including these two stainless tanks, added 4” to the floor length, a change that didn’t alter many other mfg. factors. But clearly this cow needs more space than a few inches in length.

For two decades Aqua Cow has offered one size to fit all cows. It’s long been obvious that big cows need a pool that’s deeper and longer. A huge cow cannot get up naturally with her head forced sideways. When she does stand, hips erupt high out of the water. The compressed tissues within the upper hind limbs don’t soak in the water’s warmth.

But suppose the tank is bigger. Smaller animals like Jerseys and heifers would require a lower front door and water level. They shouldn’t be able to turn around. Also, a slightly bigger tank requires much more water, a new problem for custom floaters and smaller dairies. (In fact, in 2007 when Aqua Cow asked several custom cow floaters about a larger tank, they waived it off, saying every giant cow could be floated.) Finally, manufacturing changes – larger sheets of steel, more wasted pieces, new jigs to me made etc. - increase costs. Making two different sizes would be impractical; farms have both small and large animals.

In the end, though, cow comfort wins out over these tradeoffs. Yr. 2011 tanks will be longer, higher, require more water, and cost a little more