function stacking - fish in animal trough?

I think the title says it all.  You've got to have a watering trough anyway for your cows/goats/whatevers...  why not stock it?

What do you think?  Good idea/bad idea?  Pros/cons?

The biggest problem with this would be the accumulation of fish wastes (poop and pee). Animals need fresh, clean water. Maybe consider a secondary tank that catches overflow from your animals water? In nature, animals drink out of creeks and ponds, but with a stock tank it would come down to concentration..

You have a great idea.

I believe that I have read here on the forum a post by Wayne who lives in Texas as I do putting minnows in his water trough to keep away mosquitoes. The fish will eat the larvae.

I am also sure that I have read that the fish help with the algae problem that some water troughs have.

I wonder what would be the best kind of fish to stock the tank with.

Tilapia comes to mind.

Would the tank need an aerator?

You might get some ideas from this forum:

https://permies.com/f/106/aquaponics

Anne Miller wrote:You have a great idea.

I believe that I have read here on the forum a post by Wayne who lives in Texas as I do putting minnows in his water trough to keep away mosquitoes. The fish will eat the larvae.

I am also sure that I have read that the fish help with the algae problem that some water troughs have.

I wonder what would be the best kind of fish to stock the tank with.

Tilapia comes to mind.

Would the tank need an aerator?

You might get some ideas from this forum:

https://permies.com/f/106/aquaponics

Maybe a few minnows or mosquito fish.. but I can’t see fish farm stocking levels. Looks like his location is Rocky Mountains.. so too cold for Tilapia. I hope more fish folks chime in on this thread, as I would love to be wrong!

It depends on the quality of life you can give the fish. Fish need room to swim and hide, occasional medical care, proper temperatures, clean water (which can require testing or additives for stuff like ph), protection from predators, and species specific care. The livestock could also injure or make the fish sick, and the other way around. Fish are just like any other livestock. Putting them in the trough just to make extra use of the space may not be the best idea.  
If you wanted to utilize the space, perhaps use it as a livestock safe aquatic garden.