Design-Build vs. Design-Bid-Build: Navigating the Path to Your Next Project

The need for efficient, reliable electrical automation services is paramount in many sectors like agriculture, industrial, and food & beverage industries. At Current Group, we understand the intricacies of electrical design, installation, automation, and maintenance. Choosing the right project delivery method is crucial for the success of any project. Two of the most common approaches are Design-Build and Design-Bid-Build. In this blog post, we’ll delve into the key differences between design-build vs. design-bid-build, along with their respective pros and cons, to help you make informed decisions for your next project with Current Group.

Design-Build: A Collaborative Approach

The Design-Build method brings design and construction functions together under one roof. This approach fosters a collaborative environment where the designer and contractor work together from the project’s inception to completion.

Design-Build vs. Design-Bid-Build: Navigating the Path to Your Next Project

Pros:

  • Single Point of Responsibility: One entity is accountable for every aspect of the project, which can simplify communication and decision-making processes.
  • Time Efficiency: With an integrated team, projects can move more quickly from the design phase to construction, reducing overall project timelines.
  • Cost Savings: Early collaboration in the design phase can help identify more cost-effective solutions and minimize costly changes later.
  • Enhanced Communication: Having the entire team under one contract facilitates better communication and collaboration, potentially leading to innovative solutions and fewer conflicts.

Cons:

  • Less Competitive Bidding: Since the design and build aspects are handled by the same entity, there’s less opportunity for competitive bidding in the construction phase, which could lead to higher costs.
  • Limited Design Options: The focus on streamlining the project might result in fewer design iterations, potentially limiting custom or innovative design solutions.
  • Perceived Loss of Control: Some clients may feel that they have less control over the project when all services are bundled together, especially if they have specific, nuanced requirements.

Design-Bid-Build: The Traditional Route

Design-Bid-Build is the more traditional project delivery method, where the project is distinctly segmented into design, bid, and build phases. The client hires an architect or engineer to design the project, then contractors bid on the construction job, and finally, the project is built.

Design-Build vs. Design-Bid-Build: Navigating the Path to Your Next Project

Pros:

  • Competitive Bidding: This method allows for competitive bidding during the construction phase, which can lead to cost savings for the client.
  • Greater Design Control: Clients may have more opportunities to refine and adjust the design before construction begins, ensuring it meets their needs and specifications.
  • Clear Separation of Duties: With distinct phases and separate contracts for design and construction, responsibilities are delineated, which can simplify accountability.

Cons:

  • Longer Timelines: The sequential nature of this approach can extend project timelines, as each phase must be completed before moving on to the next.
  • Increased Complexity: Managing separate contracts and coordinating between multiple entities can complicate communication and project management.
  • Potential for Higher Costs: While competitive bidding can reduce construction costs, design changes during the bidding or construction phases can cause increased expenses.

Making the Right Choice for Your Project

Choosing between Design-Build vs. Design-Bid-Build depends on several factors, including your project’s complexity, timeline, budget, and your desire for involvement in the design and construction processes. While Design-Build offers a streamlined, collaborative approach with the potential for time and cost savings, Design-Bid-Build allows for greater control over the design process and competitive pricing on construction.

Design-Build vs. Design-Bid-Build: Navigating the Path to Your Next Project

By carefully considering the nature of your project and priorities, you can select a project delivery method that aligns with your goals, ensuring a successful outcome for your electrical automation needs. At Current Group, we are committed to guiding our clients in the agricultural, industrial, and food & beverage industries through this decision-making process, ensuring that your electrical automation projects are delivered with the highest quality and efficiency, regardless of the chosen method. Contact us today!

As winter approaches, cattle ranchers face the critical challenge of ensuring their herds maintain optimal health and growth despite the harsh conditions. One often overlooked factor is the temperature of drinking water, which plays a significant role in the overall well-being and productivity of range cattle during cold months. In this article, we will explore how water temperature impacts water consumption and growth performance and how Current Group’s Open2O cattle trough heater can make a difference by preventing freezing and ensuring water availability.

The Impact of Access to Water on Cattle Health

Research consistently shows that water availability is critical to cattle’s water intake, especially during winter. Frozen water can drastically reduce consumption, as cattle cannot access the necessary water. This leads to dehydration and increased energy expenditure, as cattle use more energy to maintain their body temperature in the cold. 

This increase in water intake is crucial because it correlates with higher dry matter intake (DMI), which is essential for maintaining body weight and overall health during the cold season.

According to Jon DeClerck, Ph.D., cattle nutritionist with Purina Animal Nutrition, “Water is the most essential nutrient for cattle production,” says “It’s used for regulating body temperature, growth, reproduction, lactation, digestion and many other bodily functions. Water also drives intake for mineral, forage and supplements. And while we typically worry more about water intake in summer, it’s equally as important in cold weather.”

“For fall calving herds, water requirements go up drastically during lactation. Cows hit peak lactation right when water is at risk of freezing up. With spring calving herds, water access is key to avoid stress and long-term performance impacts to both the cow and unborn calf.”

Consequences of Inadequate Water Intake in Winter

When cattle do not have consistent access to water due to freezing conditions, the consequences can be severe. Insufficient water intake leads to dehydration, reduced feed intake (which affects nutrition), and poor growth performance. Instead, energy that should be used for growth is used to maintain body temperature, leading to weight loss and a decline in body condition. Additionally, water shortages can disrupt rumen fermentation, nutrient absorption, and overall cattle health, further compromising productivity.

Ideal Water Temperature and its Effect on Your Herd

Ensuring that water is available to cattle throughout winter is crucial to their hydration and growth. However, a balance needs to be met in terms of your water temperature.

Kate Hornyak, OSU Extension Program Coordinator, Delaware County, says, Keeping the ideal temperature of drinking water for cattle is a balance – it should neither be hot nor frozen.” – “It’s interesting to note that steers with access to cool drinking water have shown to gain an additional 0.3 to 0.4 pounds per day compared to those consuming warmer water. This underscores the importance of regularly checking the temperature of water, especially in waterers equipped with heaters, to avoid what’s known as a “runaway” – a situation where the water gets too warm.”

Cattle Trough Heater Open2O: Preventing Frozen Water

To address the challenges of water freezing during the cold season, Current Group offers the Open2O advanced electric device, an innovative solution designed to monitor water temperature and regulate the power to the heating element. Unlike traditional heating systems that continuously warm water, Open2O ensures that water remains just above freezing, reducing energy consumption and ensuring that cattle always have access to water.

Features of Open2O Water Controller

  • Power Savings: The Cattle Trough Heater Open2O has multiple temperature inputs, which allows it to monitor water temperature every 30 seconds and turn on the heating elements only as needed. This optimized control has been proven to cut substantial power usage, with an estimated minimum of 53% power savings.
  • Real-Time Water Consumption Report: The Cattle Trough Heater Open2O system provides real-time reports on water consumption, which allows cattle operators to monitor water intake per animal. This data helps identify potential issues early on, as it compares water usage across different troughs, signalling if a problem arises with any specific bowl. Accurate water consumption data supports better animal health analysis, ensuring every animal is adequately hydrated.
  • Alarm Options for Consumption and Temperature: The Cattle Trough Heater Open2O has alarm options that alert operators to unusual consumption patterns—whether too high or too low—indicating potential issues like a broken water line. The system also notifies operators if the water temperature drops too close to freezing.
  • Labour and Stress Reduction: With Open2O’s remote monitoring capabilities, feedlot operators no longer need to send staff out in cold temperatures to check water bowls. Instead, they can view the software and confirm that all water sources remain open, reducing labour costs and management stress year-round.

 

With these features, Open2O provides a comprehensive solution to prevent water bowls from freezing, monitor water consumption, and support cattle health through the cold months.

Critical Benefits of Cattle Trough Heater Open2O

  • Prevents Water from Freezing: Open2O ensures that water remains accessible, avoiding water freezing in bowls.
  • Energy Efficiency: By regulating the power to the heating element, Open2O conserves energy, reducing costs while maintaining water availability.
  • Durability and Reliability: Built to withstand harsh winter conditions, Open2O ensures uninterrupted access to water throughout the cold months.
  • Improved Growth Performance: By preventing frozen water, Open2O supports cattle hydration, feed utilization, and overall growth performance.


Providing unfrozen drinking water during winter is more than just a comfort for cattle—it’s essential to maintaining their health and growth. With the Open2O device from Current Group, ranchers can ensure that their cattle have continuous access to water, even in the coldest months. Invest in cattle trough heater Open2O today to secure your herd’s health and boost your bottom line this winter.