Water in cattle diets: why is it so important and how much do cows drink?

Water performs several key functions in the cow's body at once, which are closely related not only to feeding, but also to the HEALTH of the animal as a whole. For example, it is involved in most digestive processes, including the breakdown and absorption of feed, the transport of nutrients, and the excretion of by-products of the cow's metabolism. Dehydration leads to various health problems, constipation and reproductive problems, as well as intestinal infections if a cow tries to drink from puddles in search of moisture. Our task is to ensure not only the availability of water, but also access to it, as well as to monitor hygiene. What do we need to know to make water management effective?

Fact one: lactating dairy cows can drink from 95 to 190 liters of water per day in a very short period of time, depending on their productivity and ambient temperature. A cow spends an average of 10 to 60 minutes drinking water per day. Let's add here 12-14 hours a day, necessary for cows to rest, 8 hours for chewing gum - and we will understand that they do not have much time left for watering. This means that cows must have enough space to comfortably take a place at the drinker without confrontation with other animals. Water availability is a matter of both population density and the placement of drinkers in the enclosure: at least two per pen, so that more dominant individuals cannot drive others away from the drinker.

Fact two: According to Carly Becker, professor of dairy farming at Pennsylvania State University, between 30 and 50% of the total daily water intake cows drink within an hour after milking. In parallel with this, farms are usually working on washing and cleaning milking equipment - if at such times there are problems with water pressure, make sure in advance that your cows will be provided with clean water upon returning from the milking parlour.

Fact three: water, like feed, requires regular analysis. When assessing the quality of water, its organoleptic properties (smell and taste), physical and chemical properties (pH, hardness, total dissolved substances, the presence of bacteria and their metabolic products) are usually taken into account. Fluctuations in the pH of the water within this range and the hardness of the water in general do not have a significant effect on water consumption or animal productivity.

Water quality must be taken into account when calculating rations. For example, a high level of magnesium sulfate in the water can cause diarrhea and increase the cow's need for selenium, vitamin E and copper. High iron water may also increase the demand for bioavailable copper, especially in lactating dairy cattle. Water with a pH less than 5.5 (acidic) can exacerbate problems associated with mild acidosis, including reduced MILK yield and total fat content, low daily gains, increased culling. Alkaline water (pH above 8.5) can lead to problems with mild alkalosis, deficiencies in amino acids and B vitamins, and symptoms similar to mild acidosis. This effect of alkaline water is enhanced by diets high in alfalfa and minerals.

Monitoring the condition and cleanliness of the drinkers and the water itself is an integral part of the daily routine work on the farm. When choosing equipment for the construction of new livestock buildings, always look not only at the price and brand of specific solutions (drinkers, feed table cover), but also how easy it will be for the staff to comply with sanitary and hygienic requirements .

Mustang experts note: there are no trifles in feeding. Water quality and availability is still a challenge that many livestock farms have yet to solve - so if you want to get a real return on investment in your future livestock, do not ignore any of the components that shape cow productivity and farm efficiency. Or contact the nutrition experts who can help you build your nutrition and animal care systems the right way and save you money!