Kinaki: A solution
Kinaki concrete products started because there was a need. In the 1980’s the only commercial water trough available was a 200 litre steel vessel. It had to be protected from being demolished by the cows with poles and they rusted in five years. Due to their small volume the steel vessels were emptied by the first 20 cows leaving the rest of the herd waiting for water. This was not a suitable situation as every good dairy farmer knows that no water means no milk. The ideal material was concrete, with it’s excellent durability and high strength, but there was nothing available and concrete companies were not interested in manufacturing. Thus the Kinaki cattle water trough was born. Since it’s humble beginnings in the early 90’s on one man’s farm in Underberg, Kwa-Zulu Natal over 5 000 Kinaki cattle water troughs have been sold all across South Africa from the Western Cape all the way to Gauteng.
Why concrete?
On the farm concrete is an ideal material. It is durable because it is not subject to UV light deterioration like fibreglass or plastic. However, manufacturers of fibreglass or plastic products don’t mind this because it means that you will be back in 5 years giving them more money. With Kinaki products we don’t want to see you for at least 50 years, unless of course you need more of our products or you tried to drive over them with a tractor. Concrete is also structurally strong enough that animals can’t break it and so it does not have to be protected with poles or anything else. The only way you can break a Kinaki product is if you hit it with a vehicle or you keep elephants with your cows. Finally concrete is heavy enough that when our product is empty it will not be dislodged by wind or animals. The disadvantage of this weight is that delivery costs are higher than alternative materials but this is a once off cost for at least 50 years.
Our Products
Beginning with the Kinaki cattle water troughs Robin Smaill has continued to develop concrete products that provide farmers with real solutions to problems that they have. The Kinaki sheep water trough is based on the same principals governing the design of the cattle water trough. However, its smaller size and weight means that it can be transported far more easily and is perfect for situations where large amounts of water are not needed. It is designed for sheep but is also suitable for horses, ostriches and small game.
The Kinaki dairy feed bin provides a lasting alternative to brick and metal feed bins in herring bone sheds. Their concrete construction ensures that they can withstand the corrosive properties of the feed far better than their metal counterparts can. Brick feed bins are also easily damaged by cows trying to feed. The Kinaki silage feed bin provides a similar solution for feed placed in paddocks.