Providing enough quality water is essential for good livestock husbandry and welfare.
Understanding livestock watering needs, is paramount to designing a good livestock watering system. Dairy cows in milk, require 100-120 litres of water per day. When grass dry matter is high, in milk cows may have to drink over 80% of their water requirement (the balance may be met from forage). Cows tend to drink 30-50% of their water requirement within 1 hour of milking and so the following are critical considerations:
Accessibility
Flow Rate
Trough Capacity
Providing enough quality water is essential for good livestock husbandry. Water makes up;
70% of the animals bodyweight 87% of milk produced
Water also regulates body temperature and is vital for organ functions such as digestion, waste removal and the absorption of nutrients. The daily water requirement of livestock varies significantly, with size, growth stage and output level all having a strong influence.
Consumption rates can be affected by dietary, environmental and management factors.
Water Consumption by Dairy Cattle
Air temperature, relative humidity, the level of animal exertion and milk output are examples of these factors. The quality of the water, which includes temperature, salinity and impurities affecting taste and odour, will also have an effect. The water content of the animal’s diet will influence its drinking habits. Forage or feed with high moisture content decreases the quantity of drinking water required.
Dairy Cattle Temperature range 4-21°C
Level of Milk Production (kg milk/day)
Water Requirement Range (L/day)
Average Typical Water Use (L/day)
Dairy calves (1-4 months)
-
4.9-13.2
9
Dairy heifers (5-24 months)
-
14.4-36.3
25
Milking cows
13.6
68-83
115
22.7
87-102
115
36.3
114-136
115
-
34-49
-
Dry cows
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“I invested in a new water system last year following issues with health, fertility and yield due to the drought in 2018. I couldn’t be happier with it and it’s given me great peace of mind. Even with the very dry spell we’ve recently had, I’m producing the same amount of milk from 5 less cows and there’s no stress in the herd. I’m in a much better position now to manage a drought.” Diarmuid Connell, Kells, Co. Meath Dairy farmer milking 60 cows on 60 acre grazing platform
Keep the water flowing on your farm by investing in a new water system if what’s currently in place doesn’t meet your herd’s requirements. Remember these key facts when considering if your ‘Water Works’ Dairy cows in milk need
100-120
litres per day
120
A cow herd, milking 25 Litres and eating 20kgs dry matter grass, will need
Suckler cows typically drink in the range of 43-65 litres and 1-2 year old beef heifers 35-56 litres.
15,000 litres water per day.
30-50% 1HOUR and drink of that requirement within of milking.
In normal conditions
Fill rate of 2,500 litres per hour will be required to meet the herds requirement in first hour after milking
C.50%
Large trough capacity can compensate somewhat for flow rate. Recommend 15 gallons per cow. 10% of herd should be able to drink simultaneously.
of that will come from grass. Pipe size, throughput capacity of ball cock, water pressure will together determine flow rate. Poor water quality can effect animal health or discourage drinking and impact production.
In drought conditions capacity requirements could be almost doubled.
x2
2018
records show water consumption at 120 litres per cow/day.
Water temperature, salinity and impurities affecting taste and odour need to be monitored and rectified. When designing paddocks water troughs should be located at the centre of the paddock for ease of access and to allow for multiple grazing options.