Cow Chips: Standing in Water

While we had the cows from Panguitch in the Ivins field we would water them using a 350 gallon round tank. In an effort to keep water in the tank we would leave a trickle of water running into it, this would cause the tank to over flow from time to time and created a large puddle of water around the tank. This started to be a problem so we would shut the trickle of water off when the puddle got too big. This made it so that we would have to go twice a day and turn the water on to fill the tank. Imagine my surprise when I pulled up one morning to find most of the 20 cows standing by the water tank. They were ankle deep in water, the water tank was actually floating on the puddle and here they stood waiting for a drink! I was always amazed to find the cows standing in this puddle of water looking for a drink in an empty water tank that was floating in the puddle of water; it happened over and over again while the cows were there.

What was wrong with the water that they were standing in? I have seen cows drink from less desirable circumstance, in fact, when they were fighting over the water leak in the St. George field there was less water and it was all churned up and muddy to boot! This water was a puddle yes, but it was not all churned up and muddy. There they stood, ankle deep in water, waiting for water. I often wonder if they would die of thirst standing in that water. I look at myself and wonder how often I do the same thing. Do I recognize when this is what I am doing? Do I correct it? Or am I oblivious to the fact that my feet are wet while waiting for a drink? I truly hope that I never do this, wait for something to happen when what I need is right here right now.