At this time of year, we are all tired of the heat, especially our livestock. The need for fresh, clean, and abundant water in summer isn’t groundbreaking, but let’s dive into how much water our beef cows need to stay healthy.
When producers think about nutritional requirements for beef cattle, protein, energy, and minerals often come to mind. However, none of the above-mentioned nutrients will meet an animal’s needs without water, one of the most often overlooked nutrient requirements. Animals require minimum amounts of water for growth, fetal development, lactation, and replacing water lost through urine and evaporation. As summer continues to hammer our herd in the southeastern U.S., remember that water is critical for regulating body temperature, maintaining health, and maximizing production.
For producers, this means ensuring cattle have clean, abundant water sources available at all times. Many factors influence the total amount of water cattle require.
Factors influencing water requirements for cattle include:
- Stage of production: Lactating cows will have a much higher water requirement. Milk consumption in beef cows is about 4% fat and 8% other solids (proteins, carbohydrates, and minerals). The remaining 88% of milk is water. Research in dairy herds shows that for every pound of milk produced by a cow, an additional 0.87 to 0.9 pounds of water will be required for consumption by that cow.
- Environment: Temperature and humidity are key players in water consumption. For every 10 degrees above 40° F, cattle consume about 1 more gallon of water per day.
- Diet: Water content in feed is highly variable. For example, a total mixed ration (TMR) that would be fed at a feed yard is much drier than what cattle grazing lush forages will be consuming. As the water content of feed consumed increases, the amount of water that will be drunk by cattle will decline.
By keeping in mind all the factors that affect total water requirements and intake, producers can ensure they meet the nutritional needs of their herd.
If you believe you have an issue with your water, such as blue-green algae or nitrates, please contact your county extension agent.
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