Importance of drinking water for livestock Allah Dad Khan

1. Allah Dad Khan

2.  Nutritionists spend a lot of time discussing
total digestible nutrients, minerals, crude
protein and even various fractions of protein.
However, we often take for granted the most
important nutrient, the one required in the
greatest amount by any class of livestock –
water.

3.  All animals require water. Water is needed to
transport compounds via the blood, maintain
cellular structural integrity, regulate
temperature, etc. Livestock can satisfy water
needs by drinking free water, consuming
feedstuffs high in water content or doing both.
In fact, if stocker cattle are provided abundant
quantities of lush winter annual pasture (70 to
80 percent water), they may not need an
additional water source. Domestic animals in
otherwise good health can live for approximately
60 days without food, but only seven days
without water. Dehydrated cattle will appear
gaunt and listless and will have dry noses and
sunken eyes. Hearing and sight both are
adversely affected in a dehydrated state

4.  Adequate water status is absolutely critical for newly
received stocker cattle, because dehydration severely
impairs the ability of the trachea and lungs to resist and
expel disease-causing organisms. Many stockers may be
unfamiliar with water troughs, but locating them along the
fence line will allow cattle walking the fence to find them.
Also, letting the tank overflow or setting up a splashing
fountain for the first few days can help calves find the
water. Then the question becomes, "Can you make them
drink?"
 Water intake is highly variable and depends on many
factors, including:
 Animal (species, weight, physiological status,
adaptation/experience, diet, disease)
 Environment (temperature, humidity, presence of shade)
 Water (location, quality, amount, temperature)

5.  Drinking water is the most important
nutrient for lactating dairy cattle. Milk is
composed of 87 per cent water and the body
of a mature cow consists of between 45 and
75 per cent water.
 Lactating dairy cattle consume
approximately four to five litres of water for
every kilogram of dry matter intake, a total
of between 80 and 120 litres of water daily.

6.  Drinking water quality criteria include: odour
and taste, pH, total dissolved solids (TDS),
hardness, excess sulphates, iron, nitrates,
toxic substances such as heavy metals and
organophosphates, and micro-organisms such
as total coliform and fecal coliform bacteria
and algae.

7.  Research has shown that cows prefer warm
water (15-25C is optimum) during cold
weather. Providing warmed drinking water
during cold weather many increase water
consumption. However, providing chilled
water during hot weather does not increase
water intake according to the research.

8.  Sulphates in water may compromise the immune
system, leading to reproduction and health problems,
by reducing the availability of important minerals,
including copper, manganese, zinc and selenium.
Although cattle may tolerate sulphate levels as high
as 1500-2500 ppm in drinking water, performance is
often compromised at levels as low as 500 ppm.
 Nitrate levels of 300-400 ppm in drinking water have
been associated with reproductive problems and
abortions in dairy cattle. Nitrates may also be high in
feeds, so the maximum tolerable level in water
depends on the level in the feed.
 There is no research defining the optimum water pH
for dairy cattle. It is thought that the optimum pH is
approximately neutral (6.5 - 7.5).

9.  With stagnant water, the potential for rodent
infestation is also possible. Rodents, whether
mice, rats, or even at times birds can find
their way into and drown in drinking water
thereby poisoning the water of horses
needing to drink. The bacterium that come
along with this situation, can cause
salmonella poisoning and other potentially
fatal diseases. A logical way to prevent this is
to avoid standing water when possible.

10.  Having clean drinking water is critical in
keeping animals healthy. The temperature,
and quality of water has a direct and
undeniable link to avoidance of illnesses, and
other very serious health related issues that
are all easily preventable with the proper
planning and equipment