Picking a trough is really three decisions in one: what it's made of, how big it needs to be, and where you put it. Get any one of those wrong and you end up with a trough that's the wrong size for the mob, sited somewhere that turns to a bog, or made from a material that doesn't suit how you actually use the paddock. This guide walks through all three honestly — including where TGRM's current stocked range does and doesn't fit.

What TGRM stocks today

TGRM's current trough range is concrete, from Civilmart:

That's a current-catalogue observation, not a permanent rule — TGRM's range can change — but as things stand, if you want a poly or steel trough off the shelf here, you won't find one. Where a float-less model is chosen, TGRM's Cocky Valve range (stainless bodies, float balls, lever arms, chain kits, deflector guards) plus Norma and Hansen float valves cover the refill and protection side.

Concrete, poly and steel — the honest trade-offs

None of these three materials is a universal winner. Each suits a different setup.

Concrete

Concrete troughs are heavy, stable, and have a long track record on permanent paddock watering points. The mass that makes them hard to move is also what makes them hard for cattle to tip, shift or damage, and it helps buffer water temperature. The trade-offs run the other way: a full trough isn't something you relocate on a whim, delivery and a firm, level base are part of the job, and the surface is more porous than poly or steel, which can make it a bit harder to keep clean. They can also crack if the base underneath isn't properly bedded and doesn't stay firm.

Poly

Poly troughs are light, portable and easy to clean, which is why they turn up a lot in rotational grazing setups where a trough needs to move with the mob. Poly is often marketed as a lower-upfront-cost option, but actual price depends on size, construction, freight and supplier. The trade-off is durability: poly has a finite UV life before it needs replacing, it has much less mass so it's easier to knock about or damage, and in some settings it can attract chewing. TGRM does not currently stock poly troughs.

Steel / galvanised

Steel troughs are strong and can be made portable, and they remain a legitimate option in the wider market. Bare galvanised steel is prone to rust over time and can absorb a lot of heat in the sun; poly-lined steel troughs are one way manufacturers address the corrosion side. TGRM does not currently stock steel troughs — they're covered here for completeness, not as a TGRM product line.

Where this leaves the choice: for a permanent paddock watering point that isn't moving, concrete's mass and durability make it a strong fit, and it's what TGRM currently has ready to go. Where portability matters more than permanence — set-stocking versus rotational cell grazing is the usual dividing line — poly is worth sourcing elsewhere if that's the priority, and steel is the other market alternative to be aware of.

Sizing: don't mix paddock and feedlot rules

Trough sizing guidance depends heavily on context, and paddock and feedlot figures are not interchangeable — using a feedlot number in a paddock setting (or vice versa) will leave a trough badly under- or over-sized.

For paddock grazing, a commonly used rule of thumb is around 0.5 m of trough edge per head of cattle (roughly 0.3 m per sheep), with enough total edge for at least 10% of the mob to drink at once — doubled if the trough can only be accessed from one side.

For feedlot pens, the guidance is different again and is usually expressed per head rather than as trough edge: around 25 mm of trough perimeter per head in normal conditions, rising to around 75 mm per head in hot weather.

Keep these two contexts separate. A paddock trough doesn't need to be sized like a feedlot pen trough, and a feedlot pen shouldn't be sized off paddock rules of thumb.

Siting: where to put it

A few siting principles apply regardless of material:

Gravity-feed from the tank where the layout allows it — it's simpler and more reliable than relying on pumped pressure alone.
Shade over or near the trough reduces evaporation and helps keep water cooler, which stock generally drink better.
The trough needs a firm, level base to sit on — this matters even more for the heavier concrete units, where an uneven or soft base is a common cause of cracking.
Around the trough, aim for a durable, well-drained standing surface. High-traffic watering points churn up wet ground quickly, and a hard, well-drained surround (a defined apron or pad, sloped away from the trough) heads that off. The exact dimensions used in feedlot pen design don't translate directly to paddock design — the general principle to carry across is firm footing and drainage, not a specific paddock apron measurement.
Where a float valve is exposed, an enclosed guard (galvanised, fibreglass or, in the case of TGRM's two 6FT round models, built into the trough itself) protects it from stock damage and keeps debris out.

Common failure modes

Most trough problems trace back to one of a handful of causes:

A restricted or fouled float valve chokes the refill rate, even though the tank and pipework are fine.
Poly troughs left in harsh UV exposure for years can crack or become brittle.
Bare steel troughs corrode over time, especially where the galvanising has worn or been damaged.
Concrete troughs crack when the base underneath hasn't been properly bedded or has moved.
A boggy, poorly drained surround turns a working trough into an access and hygiene problem.
A trough that's simply too short for the mob using it creates queuing and can hold weaker animals back from drinking.

A note on calf safety

Trough depth and calf access is a reasonable practical concern, but there isn't a solid, citable Australian figure for a safe maximum depth or edge height that applies generally — it depends on trough design, calf age and how the yard or paddock is set up. Treat this as a design and observation question for your own operation rather than a fixed number to design to.

Related TGRM resources

For working out how much water your stock actually need and how to size storage and refill capacity, see Planning Stock Water.
If a trough is filling too slowly, that's a supply-side fault-finding question — see Why Isn't My Trough Filling Fast Enough?
For sizing the poly pipe feeding a trough, see the Poly Pipe Sizing Guide.

Concrete vs Poly vs Steel: Choosing the Right Livestock Trough