The Big Sandy Mountaineer -

Adam Sigler (MSU Extension Water Quality Specialist), Marley Manoukian (MSU Extension Agent in Richland County) and Megan Van Emon (MSU Extension Beef Cattle Specialist) have written a useful resource for livestock producers. This MontGuide is available at the Chouteau County Extension office or online at https://bit.ly/3Mq4Hyn.

Fresh, clean water is a daily requirement of all classes of livestock. Water requirements vary greatly depending on several factors including temperature, animal size, production stage, and moisture content of the diet. A 1300 pound mature beef cow requires an estimated at 9.2 gallons per day at 40° F, increasing to 14.3 gallons per day for the same animal at 90° F. When that cow is lactating and producing 15 pounds of milk per day, estimates of water requirements increase to 12.2 gallons per day at 40° F, and 17.4 gallons per day at 90° F. Water is the most essential nutrient for livestock health and production. Animals need water to help them regulate body temperature, digest feed, lubricate joints, grow muscle, lactate, and carry out other biological processes. Additionally, water intake drives feed intake; if water intake decreases, feed intake will follow suit.

Water quality can be impacted by many factors, including but not limited to location, year, precipitation, soil composition, and season. Water quality may be impaired by contaminants such as salts, excessive nutrients, or bacteria, which can become more concentrated during drought as water sources dry up. Many contaminants will cause animals to drink less water, which causes them to eat less, resulting in a negative impact on health and production.

However, if livestock water (or feed) contains a high amount of salt, animals may drink more water because salty water doesn’t fully quench thirst. This is why testing to know what is in animals’ drinking water is extremely important for livestock production.

The MontGuide covers thresholds for total dissolved solids, sulfate and nitrate. In addition, there are segments on cynobacteria, algae, water testing and sampling, drought and weather impacts on water quality and how a rancher can manage poor quality water by mixing the good with the bad.

Montana State University, U.S. Department of Agriculture and Montana Counties Cooperating MSU Extension is an equal opportunity/affirmative action provider of educational outreach.