The Importance of a Bucket

     One of the most important things I load for a livestock show are buckets. They have multiple uses and I don't think I could get through a show without one.

Biosecurity

     It is hard to think of a simple five gallon bucket as the first line of defense in biosecurity. I will give you some examples of how it is. First, the bucket leaves my house clean and disinfected. I know I can put anything in it that will be used around my animals. Water is the most important.

     Sharing drinking water with animals from other locations is just asking for the spread of something nasty. Many shows, especially cattle and horse shows, may set out tanks for the convenient watering of large animals, but it is an invitation to share germs. I never use community watering tanks or share my bucket with any animals but my own. I fill the bucket with the right amount of water I think my animals will drink and when they are done, pour out the little bit they did not drink. If I think the bucket got dirty, it gets washed.

     Feed transported in my buckets is the second use and rule for biosecurity. Hauling sacks of feed is just a messy pain. I have buckets with good lids. No spilling feed from a ripping bag. No wet feed from and animal knocking over water. No mice or birds stealing feed (or the occasional night raid by a fairgrounds raccoon or skunk!) No passing by animal sticking there nose in my feed. Feed in the bucket is secure from contamination and the environment.

Other Uses

Besides keeping water and feed clean and free of contaminants, I use my bucket for other things.

• It goes to the wash rack hauling all my supplies: hose, brushes, soaps, towels and anything else I need.
• It is a muck bucket when cleaning stalls, pens or cages.
• It is my step up to hang signs and banners (It is not OSHA approved for the purpose, but I am short and I'm not hauling a ladder)
• It is road block when cleaning the aisle up.
• It is a trash can when having lunch at the pens.
• It carries tools from the truck when things break at the show.
• Upside down, it holds feed when we need to take a swine picture.
• It totes those ring side show supplies like spray bottles, towels, non-show halters, combs, and brushes.
• And if there is time to take a break, its my seat to rest on.

     There are a lot of other uses for the bucket. I hope you have a good set of them as part of your show tack. And if you find one with my name on it, please put it to good use.


Scott Stinnett
Extension Agent
Kit Carson County
Golden Plains Area
Colorado State University Extension