What Contaminants Cause Severe Dehydration In Farm Animals If There Is Plenty Of Water

H2o Requirements of Livestock

Agdex#:	716/400
Publication Date:	05/07
Order#:	07-023
Terminal Reviewed:	January 2019
History:	Replaces OMAFRA Factsheet H2o Requirements of Livestock, Gild No. 86-053
Written by:	Daniel Ward - Engineer, Poultry and Other Livestock - Housing and Equipment/OMAFRA; Kevin McKague - Engineer, Water Quality/OMAFRA

PDF Version - 267 KB

Equally part of providing accessible customer service, please email the Agricultural Information Contact Centre (ag.info.omafra@ontario.ca) if you require advice supports or alternate formats of this publication.

Table of Contents

1. Dairy Cattle
2. Beef Cattle
3. Swine
4. Horses
5. Sheep
6. Chickens
7. Turkeys
8. Rabbits, Mink and Alternative Livestock
9. Water Quality
10. References

Providing enough quality water is essential for good livestock husbandry. Water makes up lxxx% of the blood, regulates body temperature and is vital for organ functions such as digestion, waste product removal and the absorption of nutrients. Understanding daily livestock watering needs is key when designing a livestock watering system.

The daily water requirement of livestock varies significantly among animal species. The animal's size and growth stage will have a stiff influence on daily water intake. Consumption rates can exist afflicted by environmental and direction factors. Air temperature, relative humidity and the level of animal exertion or product level are examples of these factors. The quality of the water, which includes temperature, salinity and impurities affecting sense of taste and olfactory property, will besides accept an effect. The water content of the animal'due south diet will influence its drinking habits. Feed with a relatively high wet content decreases the quantity of drinking water required.

Given that drinking water needs are species-, farm- and management-specific, many producers today are opting to install water-metering equipment to obtain accurate measurements of h2o utilize. If medication is ever provided through the livestock'due south watering system, the meter tin be used to ensure proper dose rates.

Dairy Cattle

Milk is composed of nearly 87% water. An adequate supply of quality water for dairy cattle is extremely important. Farmers typically provide cows with gratuitous access to fresh water at all times. The h2o requirements of lactating cows are closely related to milk product, moisture content in the feed and environmental factors such as air temperature and humidity. The moo-cow's acme h2o intake generally occurs during the hours of greatest feed intake.

Tabular array 1 identifies water use by major growth stage of dairy animal and breaks downward the estimated water consumption of a milking cow by its level of milk production.

Table one. Water Consumption by Dairy Cattle ^{(1), (ii)}

Dairy Cattle Type	Level of Milk Production (kg milk/day)	Water Requirement Rangea (L/day)	Average Typical Water Useb (50/twenty-four hours)
Dairy calves (1-4 months)	-	four.9-13.2	ix
Dairy heifers (5-24 months)	-	fourteen.4-36.3	25
Milking cowsc	xiii.6	68-83	115
Milking cowsc	22.7	87-102	115
Milking cowsc	36.3	114-136	115
Milking cowsc	45.5	132-155	115
Dry cowsd	-	34-49	41

^a A outcome of the animals' environment and management.
^b Typical consumption over a year on a daily ground under average agricultural atmospheric condition in Ontario.
^c The average milk product in 2006 for a Holstein dairy cow in Ontario was 33 kg/day.
^d Approximately 15% of the milking-age cows nowadays on a dairy farm could be considered "dry."

Beef Cattle

Few studies have been undertaken to fully document water use past beef animals. Those that have been completed propose that the water requirement of beef cattle is closely tied to whether the animals are lactating, the moisture content of their feed ration and environmental factors such as air temperature and relative humidity.

Grazing trials have demonstrated that weight gains of pastured beef animals are higher if a water supply is provided for the cattle in the grazing area, even though the animals are receiving a lot of water from their diet.

Table 2 provides average daily water requirements of beefiness cattle.

Table 2. Water Consumption by Beefiness Cattle ⁽³⁾

Beef Cattle Type	Weight Range (kg)	Water Requirement Rangea (Fifty/day)	Average Typical Water Useb (L/day)
Feedlot cattle: Backgrounder	181-364 (400-800 lb)	15-twoscore	25
Feedlot cattle: Brusque keep	364-636 (800-1,400 lb)	27-55	41
Lactating cows with calves	-	43-67	55
Dry cows, bred heifers & bulls	-	22-54	38

^a A result of the animals' environment and management.
^b Typical consumption over a yr on a daily basis under average agricultural conditions in Ontario.

Swine

The housing method, growth stage and feeding method used bear on the drinking water requirements of pigs. Table 3 gives a breakdown of drinking water consumption past weight range or level of maturity.

Table 3. H2o Consumption past Swine ^(iv)

Swine Type	Weight Range (kg)	Water Requirement Rangea (50/day)	Average Typical Water Applyb (L/day)
Weaner	7-22	1.0-3.2	two.0
Feeder grunter	23-36	3.2-4.5	4.5
Feeder pig	36-seventy	4.v-7.3	4.5
Feeder pig	70-110	7.3-x	nine
Gestating sow/boar	-	13.6-17.2	15
Lactating sowc	-	18.one-22.7	20

^a A result of the animals' environs and direction.
^b Typical consumption over a twelvemonth on a daily basis under boilerplate agricultural atmospheric condition in Ontario.
^c Includes unweaned piglets.

The introduction of three-site production and all-in/all-out facilities has altered the water usage patterns and acme usage requirements of swine growout facilities. Pigs in the growing phase are oftentimes grouped in segregated rooms or unabridged barns by age. They are kept in this facility until the target weight is reached by the majority of animals, when the room or barn is emptied and then restocked.

Consider, for example, that five hundred 23-kg (50-lb) pigs at the start of a growout cycle will each consume 4.v L/day. By the terminate of the growout cycle, the water requirements of these same 500 pigs, now weighing 100 kg (220 lb), will have doubled to 9 50/twenty-four hour period each. The h2o organization for these pigs must be designed for the higher value.

The use of moisture/dry feeders and liquid feeding systems has reduced the book of drinking water required because of the college moisture content of the feed ration and the reduction in spillage of water from these systems. Swine system specialists take estimated that, prior to 1990, approximately fifty% of the water supplied to a hog pen in a day was lost as spillage. Today, more than efficient feeding systems take cut these losses significantly. Producers have also opted to replace the nipple drinkers unremarkably used equally a water source in the pen with h2o basin-blazon drinkers.

Horses

Horses typically consume 2-3 kg of h2o per kilogram of dry feed. They drink more in hot weather and while doing heavy work. Encounter Table four.

Table 4. Water Consumption by Horses ^{(five), (half-dozen)}

Frame size (weight)	Water Requirement Rangea (L/day)	Average Water Useb (Fifty/solar day)
Small (500 lb)	thirteen-20	xvi.5
Medium (1,000 lb)	26-39	32.v
Large (1,500 lb)	39-59	49

^a A result of the animals' environs and management.
^b Typical consumption over a year on a daily basis under average agricultural conditions in Ontario.

Sheep

Grazing sheep, particularly in the libation seasons of the year, can require relatively trivial additional h2o beyond what they receive through provender. Hot, drier weather, however, will result in increased water intake. Table 5 provides an estimate of water consumed daily by unlike categories of sheep.

Table 5. Water Consumption by Sheep^(vii)

Animal Type	Weight Range (kg)	H2o Requirement Rangea (L/day)	Average Typical H2o Utiliseb (L/day)
Feeder lamb	27-50	3.6-5.2	4.4
Gestating meat ewe/ram	80	4.0-6.5	v.25
Lactating meat ewe plus unweaned offspring	fourscore+	nine.0-10.v	10
Gestating dairy ewe/ram	90	4.4-7.1	5.75
Lactating dairy ewe	90	9.4-11.4	x.four

^a A result of the animals' environment and direction.
^b Typical consumption over a year on a daily basis under average agronomical conditions in Ontario.

Chickens

The feed requirements of growing poultry are directly related to bird weight. H2o requirements are related to feed consumption and to the air temperature. Over half of the h2o intake of poultry is obtained from the feed. Automatic watering equipment ensures poultry have free access to water at all times.

Once air temperatures exceed 30°C or (87°F), the expected h2o consumption can increase past 50% in a higher place normal consumption rates. Poultry are unable to sweat equally a means of regulating body temperature. Their method of heat control involves increasing the respiratory rate (panting) to expel surplus heat, which results in the release of big amounts of moisture from the bird that must exist replaced or the bird volition become dehydrated. Table 6 shows an estimate of the daily water consumption of 1,000 broiler chickens at different stages of growth. Information technology also illustrates the effect air temperature can accept on their water consumption rates. Use Table 6 to blueprint water systems for broilers. Table seven shows water consumption past season and tin can exist used for estimating boilerplate total annual h2o requirement for broilers.

Table 6. Water Consumption of Broiler Chickens by Age⁽⁸⁾

Chicken Broiler Age (weeks)	Water Requirement (Fifty/1,000 birds/twenty-four hour period)
	21°C	32°C
one-4	50-260	50-415
five-8	345-470	550-770

Table 7. H2o Consumption of Broiler Chickens by Season ⁽⁸⁾

Season	Average Typical Water Usea(L/one,000 birds/24-hour interval)
Winter, fall, spring	280
Summertime	450

^a Typical consumption over a year on a daily basis under average agricultural weather condition in Ontario.

Table 8 presents an gauge of daily water consumption by other common classes of chickens. Again, temperatures take a major influence on the water consumption rate expected from these other poultry classes. Egg production level volition as well affect the water consumption of laying hens. It has been estimated that laying hens volition drink most 4 kg of water per dozen eggs produced.

Table viii. Water Consumption by Chicken Classes Other Than Broilers ⁽⁹⁾

Craven Type	Weight Range (kg)	Water Requirement Rangea (50/one,000 birds/24-hour interval)	Average Typical Water Useb (L/1,000 birds/mean solar day)
Laying hens	i.half-dozen-1.9	180-320	250
Pullets	0.05-one.5	30-180	105
Broiler breeders	3.0-3.five	180-320	250

^a A result of the animals' surround and direction.
^b Typical consumption over a year on a daily footing under average agricultural conditions in Ontario.

Historically, most producers used the bell-style watering system - a circular trough with a gravity-fed reservoir that may be connected to a water line - to provide h2o to growing birds. Advances in poultry watering equipment in recent years have introduced a nipple-style watering device that contributes to drinker hygiene and reduces water spillage if properly managed. For cage-reared poultry, such every bit laying hens, there have been recent advancements to reduce h2o wastage through the use of a loving cup water device or by installing a trough under the water nipples.

Turkeys

Drinking water requirements of turkeys are shown in Tabular array 9 and Table ten. Use Table 9 for designing water arrangement capacity and Tabular array 10 for estimating boilerplate total almanac consumption. Again, water consumption is significantly influenced by the bird'southward size and the air temperature information technology is exposed to. The age of turkeys on a farm will depend heavily on market factors. Typically, however, meat turkeys can be classified every bit follows:

• broiler turkeys (hens) - upward to 11 weeks of historic period
• heavy hens - up to xvi weeks of age
• turkey toms - upward to 20 weeks of age

Water consumption of convenance hens kept for egg product is similar to that of heavy hens at xvi weeks.

Tabular array 9. H2o Consumption of Turkey by Age ^(x)

Turkey Age (weeks)	Water Requirementa (50/1,000 birds/day)
	10°C-21°C	27°C-35°C
one-vii	38-327	38-448
8-14	403-737	508-1,063
15-21	747-795	1,077-1,139

^a Includes spillage losses (typically 2% or less of full consumption).

Table 10. H2o Consumption of Turkey by Type

Turkey blazon	Average Typical Water Applya (L/1,000 birds/day)
	Fall/Winter/Spring	Summertime
Broiler turkey	296	402
Heavy hens	431	600
Turkey toms	513	723

^a Typical consumption over a year on a daily basis under boilerplate agricultural weather condition in Ontario.

Rabbits, Mink and Alternating Livestock

Limited observed and published data are available for less common livestock. The numbers presented in Table 11 are full general numbers based on estimates provided by producers and extension specialists who work with these alternate livestock. Equally with other animals, the key factors affecting water intake are likely to be feed intake, feed limerick, environmental temperature, animal size and activity.

The most of import cistron affecting rabbits' water intake is environmental temperature. They will drink twice equally much water during hot summer atmospheric condition (30°C) as they volition during more than temperate seasons (ten°C). Rabbits on high-fibre or loftier-poly peptide diets volition tend to beverage more than water than rabbits on low-fibre or depression-protein rations. The high-fibre diets require extra water to moisten the feed and to maintain adequate fluid level in the digestive tract. High-protein rations increase the water requirement, considering nitrogen from the excess protein is excreted in the urine as urea. The kidney has a express capacity to concentrate excretory byproducts in the urine, and so the more urea excreted by the animal, the more than h2o at that place is in the urine.

Like variables affect a mink's water requirements. Mink are traditionally fed a moisture diet (65%-75% water), which volition provide 80%-85% of the mink's daily water requirements. The remaining water needs must be met by drinking water.

Table eleven. H2o Consumption - Other Livestock^{(11), (12)}

Animal Blazon	Weight Range (kg)	Estimated Typical Water Usea (L/twenty-four hour period)
Rabbit - gestating doe	four.5 kg	0.35
Rabbit - doe (with litter), prior to weaning	8.five kgb	ane.02
Rabbit - 6-wk fryers	i.0 kg	0.30
Rabbit 12-wk fryers	ii.3 kg	0.64
Mink breeders - males	3.0 kg	0.39
Mink breeders - females	1.five kg	0.29
Growing mink - males	2.0 kg	0.26
Growing mink - females	1.0 kg	0.19

^a Typical consumption over a year on a daily footing under average agronomical conditions in Ontario.
^b Total weight: 4.v kg for doe plus 8 kits @ 0.5 kg

Water Quality

While the focus of this Factsheet is on the quantity of h2o consumed by livestock, water quality is as well important to consider equally it can have an impact on the volume of h2o consumed. Foul odours or tastes, for case, may discourage animals from drinking. Depending on the cause, poor water quality tin affect herd health, peradventure leading to animal expiry and economic loss to the producer.

Assess water quality at both the point of use and the source. The contamination of watering devices past dust, spilled feed and fecal thing can lead to the growth of slime. Eventually slime organisms die and decay, creating foul aroma and/or tastes.

Typically, poultry is more sensitive to the taste and mineral content of the water than other livestock types. Water handling systems are increasingly beingness used in poultry barns. The treatments normally focus on overcoming many bug with iron or minerals in the source water, killing bacteria and eliminating slime/scale from forming in the water lines and on the waterer. If chlorine is added during handling, the target rest chlorine level in the commitment organisation is between 3-5 parts per million.

The tolerance to minerals (full salts) in water supplies varies by fauna species, with poultry being near sensitive, hogs moderately sensitive and ruminant animals least sensitive. In full general, a total soluble table salt content of less than 1,000 mg/L is considered a low level of salinity suitable for all types of livestock.^(xiii) Salt contents between ane,000 mg/50 and 3,000 mg/L are satisfactory for all types of livestock but may cause watery droppings in poultry or diarrhea in livestock not accustomed to this common salt level. Table salt levels above iii,000 mg/L are not recommended for poultry and are more likely to issue in cases of livestock refusal.^(xiii) Salt levels above 5,000 mg/L are not recommended for lactating animals. Avert levels above vii,000 mg/L for all livestock.

References

1. Adams, R.Due south., et al. "Calculating drinking water intake for lactating cows." Dairy reference manual (NRAES-63). Ithaca, NY: Northeast Regional Agricultural Engineering Service, 1995.
2. McFarland, D.F. "Watering dairy cattle." Dairy feeding systems management, components and nutrients (NRAES-116). Ithaca, NY: Natural Resources, Agriculture and Engineering science Services, 1998.
3. Adjusted from The nutritional requirements of beef cattle. 7^th revised edition. Washington, D.C.: National Inquiry Council, update 2000.
4. Froese, C., and Pocket-size, D. "Water consumption and waste material product during different production stages in hog operations." St. Andrews, Manitoba: Manitoba Livestock Manure Management Initiative. 2001.
5. Adapted from Nutrient requirements of horses. 5^thursday edition. Washington, D.C.: National Research Council, 1989.
6. Groenendyk, Southward., et al. External balance of water and electrolytes in the horse. Equine Vet 1988; J.20:189-93.
7. Adjusted from Nutrient requirements of sheep. 6^thursday edition. Washington, D.C.: National Research Quango, 1985.
8. N, Mack O., Bong, Donald D. Commercial craven production manual, 4th edition. New York, NY: Van Nostrand Reinhold. 1990.
9. Adapted from Nutrient requirements of poultry. ix^th edition. Washington, D.C.: National Research Council, 1994.
10. Adapted from Hybrid turkeys: producer guide. Kitchener, ON: Hybrid Turkeys, 2006.
11. Adjusted from Guide lapin. Quebec Metropolis, QC: Conseil des productions animales du Quebec Inc., 1998.
12. Joergensen, G. Mink production.Hilleroed, Kingdom of denmark: Scientur, 1985.
13. National Academy of Sciences/National Academy of Technology. Water quality criteria. Washington, D.C., 1973.

Source: http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/engineer/facts/07-023.htm

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