For more than 30 years Nick Hayman with his brothers James and Anthonythey came for the Argentina out of New Zealand And started To travel Fields for install Equipment and understand exactly how livestock was raised. During these visits, they saw something that was repeated across the board: the animals were walking too far to reach the water. The problem wasn’t the lack of water, but the distance, and this walk, he says, helped them lose pounds every day. Over time, they realized that this situation was not specific, but part of the daily functioning of many large-scale systems in the country.
This discovery changed her attitude. While many producers focused on feed and genetics, water took a back seat. For her, this look was incomplete. “Water is just as important as feed for the weight gain of farm animals”he states Nick. In numerous farms, they observed herds that traveled between 1,000 and 3,000 meters every day to drink, which meant a direct expenditure of energy. “We have to get rid of this walk”he claims.
During their tours, they calculated that an ox that moves 1,000 meters uses around 14% of its energy for this movement alone. That information, he says, convinced them there was room for improvement.
With this premise and with the idea of eliminating this daily journey, a few years later, together with his brothers, he founded Agua Siempre, a company specifically dedicated to solving this problem in pastoral systems.
“The energy consumed is used in two places: either it goes into animal husbandry or into production.”he explains. The conclusion was that bringing water closer to each plot could alter multiple processes at once. “We must use 100% of the time to convert grass into meat”he hints. He explains that nearby water is a factor that organizes the entire system and unlocks productive potential that already exists in the field.
Another point is grass management. If the watering point is far away, the surrounding areas will be overgrazed and the furthest areas will remain unused. “The closer the drinker is, the better the food consumed is used”he emphasizes. And in a context where the producer invests between $400 and $600 per hectare in pastures, efficiency becomes key. “You have to use 100%”says. For the expert, it’s not just about producing more kilos, but also about making good use of every meter of the field.
The Haymans also closely examined the relationship between water and soil. During the extensive investigations, they found that most of the manure was concentrated around the water trough. On the other hand, if the water is within the property, “The crap is completely distributed, you get 100% of the benefits”he explains. According to him, this simple change improves natural fertility and helps restore damaged environments.
Another important axis is animal protection. Based on measurements and observations in various areas, Hayman argues that constant access to fresh water lowers body temperature on hot days. “On very hot summer days you don’t even need shade when there is water on the property”he emphasizes.
They also saw a direct impact on early mortality and weaning weight. “We managed to reduce the mortality rate by 30 to 40% and also weaned a significantly heavier calf.”he emphasizes.
Over time and with a more comprehensive approach, they developed a methodology that combines excursions, flow calculations and water networks adapted to each environment. His goal, he says, is to prevent water from becoming a limitation. “Today, in many cases, water is the constraint to improve livestock production.”precise.
To provide water directly to each property, they draw water from wells – or combine it with rainwater if the environment allows – and pump it into a main tank that maintains constant pressure and flow. From there, a network of underground pipes runs through the field and supplies connection points, called hydrants, to which the mobile water fountain is connected with each plot rotation. This means that the animal always has clean, fresh water just a few meters away, without long journeys or loss of energy.
Hayman emphasizes that her vision is to ensure that farms can produce with it up to 30% more per hectare. “Our goal is not to increase the livestock area, but to make the most of what we already have to achieve greater efficiency and profitability while protecting the environment.”he emphasizes.
He insists that water must be a central pillar of any approach. “It is a resource that should never be a limitation; on the contrary, it must be used to improve livestock production.”he states. “In Argentina, the challenge is not just to produce more, but also to do so efficiently.” closes.
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