Design and feasibility analysis of a hybrid watering system utilizing rainwater in smart livestock

This study aims to design a hybrid water supply system that uses a mixture of rainwater and groundwater in a smart livestock environment and analyze its effectiveness. The existing livestock industry has mainly utilized groundwater as a water supply source, but continuous use of groundwater can lead to water resource depletion and economic burden. Therefore, this study proposes a system that can effectively utilize rainwater by considering the variability of seasonal rainfall and the amount of drinking water for cattle. The hybrid water supply system proposed in this study utilizes the ceiling of the barn to collect rainwater, removes foreign substances through primary and secondary filters, and stores it in a storage tank, and introduces a bubble generator and a fan-based water flow composition system to maintain the quality of the stored rainwater to prevent the occurrence of bacteria and algae (green algae). In addition, the system was designed to use a mixture of groundwater and rainwater, and watering is done in an optimal ratio through automatic mixing valves and flow sensors to save water resources and increase economic efficiency. The results of the study showed that rainwater alone could meet 34.7% of the total potable water needs during the summer months, and 27.1% and 22.2% of rainwater could be utilized during the spring and fall seasons, respectively. On the other hand, in winter, due to low rainfall, only 10.0% of the water needs could be met by rainwater alone, confirming that it is essential to compensate for the shortfall with a hybrid water supply system. The contribution of this study is the empirical analysis of the specific design of a watering system using a mixture of rainwater and groundwater in a smart livestock environment, and the optimization of seasonal watering strategies to increase the sustainability and economic efficiency of livestock farming. Future research needs to examine the practicality under various climatic conditions and analyze long-term operating costs, and empirical studies in conjunction with smart agricultural policies are expected to contribute to reducing farmers' operating costs and developing sustainable livestock farming.