As the ‘Beast from the East’ prepares to clash with Storm Emma later this afternoon, farmers and rural dwellers have been warned to remain indoors from 4:00pm today and to exercise extreme caution.
The most vulnerable groups of animals to a water shortage are dairy cows, animals on high-concentrate diets and animals fed hay, straw or other very dry feeds.
Dairy cows must have access to drinking water at all times.
According to Teagasc, if an animal is without water for a prolonged period of time, there is a chance they could gorge themselves when it is made available again.
Therefore, protecting pumps and supply pipes is important.
However, pumps can sometimes trip out.
Pipes from the pump to the sheds and troughs need to be kept thawed.
Farmers could fit a tap at the end of the pipe serving the shed.
According to Teagasc’s Tom Ryan, the amount of water the animals are using and the heat from the animals should be enough to stop pipes freezing.
He also outlined that supply pipes to the sheds that are above ground will cause endless problems.