Dr. Ian Taylor

Producers should carefully select a drinking cup, according to livestock environment consultant Dr. Ian Taylor, Bloomingdale, IL. He says that many cups on the market are too small to provide enough head room for large pigs. Others are designed for mounting on the floor, which Taylor says can cause sanitation and maintenance problems. In addition, some cups have skimpy sides that don't provide for a basic benefit associated with above-floor mounted cups — a pig's privacy and protection from other pigs during drinking.

"The only cup that I currently recommend is the DRIK-O-MAT because of its size and shape," says Taylor.

The Farmweld DRIK-O-MAT® Wean-to-Finish Water Cup is comfortable for a broad size range of pigs, according to Taylor. Its 12" height is tall enough for large pigs yet when it is mounted the recommended four inches from the floor, baby pigs can easily use the cup. The wide bowl provides comfortable head room and the deep sides give pigs "protected access to water so they are less likely to be displaced by other pigs," says Taylor. He compares the benefit of face protection during drinking to the recognized, proven benefit of solid dividers in feeders.

The DRIK-O-MAT's downward directed nipple helps keep the cup and nipple clean, says Taylor. The nipple, which is easy for small pigs to push, also offers three orifice size options. This allows for adjustment of flow rate.

In order to optimize an investment in water cups, producers should carefully plan pen design. Exact location and the number of cups per pen depends on pen layout and size, according to Taylor. He warns against placing cups in planned lying areas, especially in the pathway of radiant heat. "If the cup and water get hot, palatability may be reduced and bacterial growth can increase," he says. In addition, traffic around the cup reduces the available lying areas in that thermal comfort zone.

Plumbing must also be considered in order to maximize the effectiveness of any water source. The source water well must be big enough to provide for surge volumes needed during peak drinking times. Plumbing supplies should be ample to provide the ideal flow rate for the entire barn. "You can't expect a half inch pipe to adequately serve a large finishing barn," Taylor says.

Details such as proper cup selection, pen design and plumbing considerations can make an impact on performance. "Subtle details are where we will find profit in today's pig production," concludes Taylor.