Rainwater Harvesting and System Design in Livestock Farms

Abstract

The most critical threat that global warming poses is undoubtedly water scarcity. Especially in the agricultural sector, water is an indispensable component. Therefore, it is essential to develop alternative water resources and methods against water scarcity that threatens our future. In this study, rainwater harvesting potentials on the roofs of livestock barns were determined, and system designs were made. The study was carried out at Bursa Uludag University Faculty of Veterinary Medicine Animal Health and Animal Production, Research and Application Center. According to the study results, the most rainwater was harvested in December, and the least was harvested in August. While the required water requirement in the examined poultry farms can be supplied at 71.5% in December, 13.3% can be completed in August. In the sheep farms, 90.4% of the need can be supplied with 216.9 m3 of water collected in December, while water can be transferred to other months. While it is possible to supply 57.4% of the cattle in the winter months, this rate drops to 16.4% in the summer months. In dairy cattle farms, on the other hand, while the need can be supplied in winter with rainwater harvesting, the requirement can be supplied by storing the existing water and transferring it to different periods. Rainwater harvesting systems designed for livestock farms can pay for themselves in 7 years at the latest.