Don’t Let Water Quality and Accessibility Leave You High and Dry
By Jaclyn Krymowski
Water is essential for any livestock operation. Some call it “the most important nutrient.” It has many functions within the animal’s body and quality water aids in a productive and healthy cattle. Simple and well-known as this is, maintaining water supply and quality easily gets overlooked amid the hustle and bustle of farms and ranches of all sorts.
As a rule of thumb, cattle require about a gallon of water for every100 pounds of body weight per day. But of course, this is only a guideline and heavily subject to changes in an animal’s stage of life, overall health and weather conditions.
Access to quality water must be unrestricted. A clean water source can reduce the incidence of illness, so can save the producer money.
Of increasing concern in regions with low rainfall are regulations regarding water usage. This is extremely concerning as drought conditions become more frequent.
“During a drought, water quality declines as the concentration of pollutants increases when water evaporates and becomes stagnant,” writes Ted Dyer of the University of Georgia Extension in his bulletin, Water Requirements and Quality Issues for Cattle. “Many compounds in water can negatively affect cattle performance and health.”
To encourage animals to maintain water intake, it is essential to have a water source that is both accessible and good quality.
Maintaining Availability
Natural water sources, like ponds and streams, are commonplace in regions like the Southeast and Midwest. However, such sources can quickly become unreliable during periods of drought. They are also prone to manure or fertilizer runoff and other contaminants and become more polluted as water evaporates.
According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, periods of intense drought are associated with decreases in the national herd size, largely due to herds selling off and more animals entering slaughter channels. For instance, the national herd shrunk by about 1-2% per year during the drought between 2011 and 2015.
The value of natural water sources cannot be underrated. In some regions, like the Southeast, ponds and streams are among the most common water sources according to Jane Parish and Justin Rhinehart in the Mississippi State University bulletin Beef Cattle Water Requirements and Source Management. They note that about a third of all these operations rely on either on-farm deep wells or municipal water sources.
Whatever source is used, dependability is essential. In the event of below average rainfall, how long can a pond or stream be expected to sustain a particular animal load? The same should be asked of wells, cisterns and other man-made sources.
On this note, artificial water sources should be routinely inspected and maintained throughout the year. It might seem obvious to check for faulty floats and valves or broken automatic systems, but if you don’t make it a habit to check them on a regular basis, you won’t catch them until it is too late. Other concerns are dirty and otherwise contaminated troughs.
An increasing social and political issue that must be considered in our time is water rights and access. Currently, Idaho is making headlines over this exact issue and ranchers aren’t immune.
A loss in water rights can significantly impact a rancher’s operation, potentially forcing them to alter grazing practices or even relocate livestock altogether.
Adding fuel to the fire is a concern that agricultural interests could be downplayed in favor of industry. While Idaho attempts to balance the demands of various sectors, working to ensure agriculture receives fair consideration during droughts or times of scarcity is an ongoing challenge. This is a good reminder to stay involved in your local and legal resource news and discussion.
Common Quality Concerns
All the water in the world won’t do much good if it is of poor quality. Water quality can either promote or hinder health. Not only does poor quality water lead to inadequate intake due to bad taste, it can also cause issues with other bodily functions.
There are a few common culprits that contribute to water quality issues, including excessive sulfur, fluoride or nitrates.
“Sulfates are commonly found in forages, feeds, and water throughout the western U.S. In water, sulfates bind to minerals such as calcium, copper, selenium, sodium, magnesium and iron and limit growth and performance,” writes Sergio Arispe of Oregon State University in his bulletin Water Nutrition and Quality for Beef Cattle. “At excessive levels, the salt resulting from binding to sulfate creates a bitter taste to water and induces a strong laxative effect that can negatively impact beef production.”
During drought conditions, nitrate levels can increase and are at their highest levels. However, Arispe notes that nitrate toxicity rarely comes from a water source solely, but rather it’s the combination of nitrate levels from feed and water intake (during this period of time).
According to Dyer, nitrates that are more than 300 ppm are considered unsafe. Levels less than 100 ppm are safe and levels between the two are questionable for cattle. When cattle have chronic toxicity, they have a decrease in food consumption and thus have a lower performance.
Additional water quality problems include these minerals: sulfur, iron and manganese. They give a foul flavor and/or odor, causing a decrease in water intake. On the flip side, excessive mineral levels interfere with normal absorption of minerals and can cause issues by way of deficiencies.
Algae is another concern for tank-watered animals. Blue-green algae in particular can be dangerous when it blooms in summer or fall. If large amounts overrun a tank, it can produce toxins that harm cattle if they drink large amounts.
To protect your herd, take steps to control the nutrients entering the water, increase oxygen levels in the water itself, or keep cattle away from the pond by fencing it off and providing an alternative clean water source, like a tank filled with pumped water.
Accessibility is Key
While natural water sources may be ideal, they can become unreliable during droughts or cold snaps.
Droughts causing reduced water levels in ponds, streams or creeks can make it difficult for cattle to consume enough water, especially when combined with high temperatures.
On the flipside, frozen water sources prevent cattle from accessing hydration, impacting their overall water consumption.
Consider implementing alternative watering systems, such as heated troughs, to ensure consistent access to clean water throughout the year, especially for your main facilities.
It’s worth mentioning here the call to use a trough or a pond. When using a pond in your setup, Dyer recommends simple tips to increase quality. Use fences to keep cattle out and reduce sedimentation. Additionally, installing a pipe to pump clean water from the pond’s deeper areas to a trough located at the dam’s base can provide a cleaner water source.
Research also suggests a benefit to troughs. Studies have shown that calves nursing from cows drinking from troughs can gain up to 9% more weight compared to those whose mothers drink directly from ponds. This suggests cleaner water from troughs may contribute to improved cattle health and productivity.
Parish and Rhinehart note in their article that cattle tend to graze more heavily in areas closer to water sources, venturing out less frequently for further feeding grounds. To encourage even grazing distribution throughout your pasture, aim to place water within 650-1,000 feet of all grazing areas. This ensures easy access to water while minimizing overgrazing near water troughs.
For intensive grazing systems with smaller paddocks, strategically-placed water sources can further optimize efficiency. Consider using a central watering station positioned along a fence line, lane or central hub. This allows a single trough to serve multiple paddocks, reducing construction costs and simplifying maintenance.
Achieving a balance between water accessibility and quality is crucial for any cattle operation. Droughts, regulations and unreliable natural sources can disrupt access, while factors like excessive minerals and algae blooms can compromise quality.
Regular maintenance of water systems and alternative sources like wells or municipal supplies can help mitigate accessibility issues. Monitoring water quality for minerals and nitrates, along with implementing strategies to control algae growth, are essential for ensuring cattle receive clean, healthy water. By prioritizing both, producers can promote herd health, productivity, and a better ranch.