natural spring development

[huntfamily5]

I have a 40 acre plot in Ohio a bit west of Pittsburgh, PA.  I would like to raise Painted Desert Sheep.  I found a natural spring on the property that comes to the surface in about a 2 foot diameter circle.  The water is still moving and the temperature has been about 10 for the past month.... so I would like to kow how to develop this spring for drinking purposes (for the animals).  Do you have any suggestions for spring development to water a few sheep?  I'm thinking some sort of concrete cylinder with a drain pipe flowing down hill.

[Mack in N.C.]

i would not let farm animals drink at a spring.....i would fence it off so they cant mess it up and let them drink a few yards downstream.........why cement in a natuaral spring??...i would keep it natuaral....mack

[Land_Owner]

Allowing continued access to the water downstream from the spring is a very good idea.  Use caution though as raising the spring "head" through the insertion of a cement pipe could, repeat could cause the spring to cease.  If the height of the increase in head overcomes the internal pressure, the water will no longer flow.

http://www.sungravity.com/bulletin__3.html is a link to one of over 15 Million links for "Developing a Spring". 

I totally agree with Mack, allowing animals to congregate at the spring will taint the water through fecal matter dropped by the animals.  I also believe that Giardia is already present in that spring right now due to the animals that previously drank there.  Google it.  It happens and is treatable.  Be careful if you drink from it.

[huntfamily5]

Thank you for your advice