Livestock

It depends on stock numbers and type — as a rough guide, cattle need access to around 50-70 litres per head per day, more in warm weather or for high-yielding dairy cows. We'd recommend sizing up rather than down, and fitting a ballcock or float valve so the trough refills automatically rather than running dry between checks. If you're grazing multiple fields, several smaller troughs are often more practical than one large one.

Polyethylene is naturally more flexible than fibreglass, so it resists cracking if water freezes and expands inside it — a real advantage over rigid materials in exposed fields. That said, no tank is entirely freeze-proof, so in prolonged cold snaps it's worth fitting a trough heater or breaking the ice regularly to keep water accessible. UV-stabilised polyethylene also holds up well through summer without becoming brittle.

For routine hoof hygiene, most farms run cattle or sheep through a footbath two to four times a week, increasing frequency if there's an active issue like footrot or digital dermatitis. You'll need a suitable footbath solution (formalin, zinc sulphate or copper sulphate are common) at the concentration recommended by your vet. Choose a footbath long enough that each foot gets a proper dunk, with non-slip sides to keep animals calm as they pass through.

Yes — our feeders and storage bins are made from durable polyethylene with close-fitting lids designed to keep rodents, birds and damp out, protecting feed quality and reducing waste. This matters both for animal health and for keeping feed conversion efficient, since spoiled or contaminated feed is money down the drain. Standing bins on a firm, level base also helps stop pests burrowing in from underneath.

Fish boxes are used for holding, sorting, transporting and sometimes short-term storage of live or freshly caught fish, and are common in both fish farming and processing settings. Polyethylene construction is ideal as it's non-tainting, easy to hose down and hygienic, with no rough edges to damage fish or scales. Sizes vary, so think about how they'll be handled — manually, by trolley or forklift — before choosing.

Bulk milk storage is subject to dairy hygiene regulations covering cooling rates, cleanliness and construction materials that are safe for food contact — your milk buyer or dairy hygiene inspector will confirm the specifics for your setup. Our milk tanks are made from robust, easy-to-clean polyethylene suited to regular washdown routines. It's worth checking cooling capacity against your herd size, as milk must reach the required temperature within a set time after milking.