Cattle have nose for this freshwater pump
The Aquamat Pasture pump allows cattle to be completely fenced away from streams, lakes and ponds, while allowing them access to fresh water at all times.
It is available from O’Donovan Engineering, of Coachford, Co. Cork, where sales director Dermot Donovan says it pumps water up to 70m (229 feet) length or a depth of 7 meters (23 feet).
As the animals drink, the nose-operated pump brings water from the stream. Cattle learn almost immediately how to operate the pump, and each one is suitable for 10-15 animals, said Mr Donovan.
The first tranche of the GLAS scheme is closed for applications; a second tranche is expected to open in September, 2015.
The IRD Duhallow local development group has been working with O’Donovan Engineering over the last year, and has installed a large number of Aquamat pumps as part of their LIFE+ project for protection of the freshwater pearl mussel in the Blackwater river.
The project also uses solar powered pump troughs which are part of the same La Buvette range as the Aquamat.
O Donovan Engineering has been supplying La Buvette water solutions for over 25 years.
