Ritchie OmniFount 5
A large heated automatic waterer for herds of up to 150 head. It costs less per gallon than the smaller OmniFounts.
Amazon $1,509.99$1,509.99
16 gal548 W
4.2/5
A big heated automatic waterer for cattle herds of up to 180 head. It has the largest trough of the automatic waterers here.
- 20 galCapacity
- 548 WHeater
- HardwiredCord
Check price at Amazon$1,899.99
Price checked November 9, 2026. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
Pros
- A 20 gallon trough waters up to 180 beef cattle
- A fully adjustable thermostat lets you set how much the heater runs
- 10-year warranty
Cons
- A 16 in drinking height suits cattle rather than horses
- Needs a buried water line and electrical hookup
How it scores
The rating comes from 5 measured or published factors, each scored 0-100 against fixed reference points for its type. How we rank explains each one.
Specifications
| Model number | 18248 |
|---|---|
| Water | |
| Type | Automatic waterer |
| Capacity | 20 gal |
| Price per gallon | $95 |
| Drinker | Trough |
| Animals served | 180 beef cattle, 90 dairy |
| Heating | |
| Heater power | 548 W |
| Thermostat | Yes |
| Insulated | Yes |
| Power cord | |
| Cord | Hardwired |
| Chew protection | Yes |
| Build | |
| Material | Polyethylene body, 304 stainless steel trough |
| Warranty | 10 years |
Alternatives in this type
Ritchie OmniFount 3
A mid-size heated automatic waterer for herds of up to 100 horses or beef cattle. The 10 gallon trough keeps up with a busy pen.
Amazon $1,329.99$1,329.99
10 gal548 W
Ritchie OmniFount 2
A double-sided heated automatic waterer that splits a fence between two small pens or paddocks. It waters up to 40 horses or beef cattle.
Amazon $879.99$879.99
2.2 gal298 W
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