How Much Water Does A Calf Drink Per Day

Water is an important, but often overlooked, nutrient. Livestock water requirements are affected by many factors including, size, productivity, diet and environmental weather. Limited access or reduced water consumption can issue in dehydration, which can be fatal to livestock.

Gerald Stokka, Extension Veterinarian/Livestock Stewardship Specialist; Michelle Mostrom, Veterinary Toxicologist

: NDSU Photo by Gerald Stokka

Providing acceptable water to livestock is critical for animal health and production. A 10% loss of body water is fatal to nigh species of domestic livestock.

Water accounts for more than than 98% of all molecules in the torso and betwixt 50% and 81% of an animal'due south total body weight at maturity. Water is required for regulation of body temperature, growth, reproduction, lactation, digestion, lubrication of joints and eyesight.

Livestock water requirements vary significantly depending on the species. Water consumption is influenced by a number of factors, including historic period, rate of proceeds, pregnancy, lactation, activity, blazon of nutrition, feed intake and environmental temperature. Livestock obtain water to meet their requirements from wells, fountains, surface water and moisture found in feedstuffs.

Beefiness Cattle

Water requirements of beefiness cattle are a function of the stage of production, lactation and environmental temperature (Table one). Beefiness cattle h2o requirements increase as the weight of the beast increases, during pregnancy and lactation, and with elevated temperatures.

Water requirements also vary depending on the moisture in feedstuffs. Animals fed a nutrition with higher roughage content have higher h2o consumption. Limiting water intake reduces feed consumption and animate being operation. While diet does influence daily water consumption, the primary factors are temperature and humidity.

Table 1. Estimated daily water intake (gallons per head per day) for beefiness cows based on temperature and level of production.
	Growing Cattle			Finishing Cattle			Pregnant Cows		Lactating Cows	Mature Bulls
Temp.	400 lb	600 lb	800 lb	600 lb	800 lb	1,000 lb	900 lb	i,110 lb	900 lb	i,400 lb	i,600 lb
twoscore	4	5.3	6.3	half dozen	seven.3	8.7	six.7	six	11.4	8	eight.7
50	four.iii	5.viii	half-dozen.8	6.5	7.9	9.iv	7.ii	6.5	12.half-dozen	eight.6	9.iv
60	5	half dozen.6	7.ix	seven.4	9.1	10.8	8.three	7.four	xiv.5	ix.ix	10.8
70	5.eight	seven.8	9.2	8.seven	10.7	12.6	9.7	viii.7	16.9	11.7	12.6
80	6.7	8.9	10.6	x	12.3	14.v			17.nine	13.4	xiv.5
90	9.five	12.7	15	14.3	17.four	20.six			16.2	19.0	twenty.6

Adapted from Nutrient Requirements of Beef Cattle: 8th Revised Edition: Updated 2016, 2016, NRC

Dairy Cattle

Water constitutes 87% of milk, with approximately thirty% of water consumed past dairy cattle being lost through milk. Thus, dairy cattle water requirements are strongly influenced past the stage of production and level of milk production (Table ii).

The bulk (nearly 83%) of water consumed by dairy cattle is consumed past drinking, with the remaining water coming from feedstuffs. Water requirements are influenced by the animal'due south diet and will increment with increases in dry out thing, salt and protein.

Table two. Water requirements (gallons per caput per day) for dairy cows based on level of production.
Class	Age	Milk Product	H2o Intake
		(lbs milk/solar day)
Calves	1 to 4 months		ane.3 to three.5
Heifers	v to 24 months		three.viii to 9.6
Milking cows	24+ months	xxx	18 to 22
Milking cows	24+ months	50	23 to 27
Milking cows	24+ months	80	30 to 36
Milking cows	24+ months	100	35 to 41
Dry cows	24+ months		9 to 13

Horses

Horse water intake is highly variable. Water intake is a based on trunk weight, age, diet, exercise intensity and elapsing, lactation and temperature (Table 3). Horses fed a fiber-rich provender-based diet crave more h2o than those fed a more digestible grain diet. Horses that are hot from exercise should have limited access to water to forbid colic, laminitis and/or exertional rhabdomyolysis (tying up).

Table three. Estimated daily water intake (gallons per caput per 24-hour interval) for horses as influenced by class, activity level and temperature.
Course	Activity Level	Body Weight	Temp.	H2o Intake
		(lb)	(F)
Yearling	Moderate	661	14	iv.8
Yearling	Moderate	661	68	5
Pregnant		ane,102	68	8.1
Lactating		one,102	68	thirteen.5
Mature	Idle	1,102	-4	11.1
Mature	Idle	1,102	68	8.two
Mature	Idle	ane,102	86	12.seven
Mature	Moderate	1,102	68	x.8
Mature	Moderate	1,102	95	21.vii

Adapted from Food Requirements of Horses: 6th Revised Edition, 2007, NRC

Sheep

Table 4 lists water requirements for different categories of sheep. Sheep are able to obtain near of their water requirements from provender consumption. In add-on to weight and level of production, h2o intake as well increases in response to increases in environmental temperature.

Table 4. H2o intake (gallons per head per twenty-four hours) for sheep.

Table 4. H2o intake (gallons per caput per 24-hour interval) for sheep.
Class	Weight	Water Intake
	(lbs)
Lambs	v to 20	0.1 to 0.three
Feeder lambs	threescore to 110	ane.0 to 1.v
Pregnant ewes	175 +	1.0 to 2.0
Lactating ewes	175 +	2.0 to 3.0
Rams	175 +	1.0 to ii.0

Swine

Table 5 provides water requirements for swine based on level of maturity and weight. Other factors that influence swine h2o requirements include nutrition, temperature, housing and feeding methods.

H2o intake increases as protein and salt increase in the diet. Swine fed a loftier-free energy diet that are deprived of water (such equally can occur during ability outages) and then are allowed gratis admission to h2o (power restored) are at risk of salt poisoning (cognitive edema). They should be given admission to water sparingly until fully rehydrated.

Tabular array 5. Water requirements (gallons per head per 24-hour interval) for swine.

Table 5. H2o requirements (gallons per caput per mean solar day) for swine.
Course	Water Intake
Nursery (upward to 60 lbs)	0.2 to 0.v
Grower (60-100 lbs)	0.5 to 2
Finishing (100-250 lbs)	2 to 3
Nonpregnant gilts	3 to 5
Pregnant sows	3 to vi
Lactating sows	five to eight
Boars	3 to half-dozen

Dehydration

Express h2o access, limited water availability, ecology temperatures, stress and illness can result in dehydration or lack of h2o. Common signs of dehydration include lethargy, tightening of the skin, weight loss, and drying of mucous membranes and optics.

Here are some other symptoms:

Cattle and sheep – The eyes will announced sunken and dull. In lactating dairy cows, dehydration results in a near abeyance of milk production.

Horses– Dehydration reduces skin elasticity. One way to determine if a horse is dehydrated is past skin folds. Pull the peel over the shoulder and hold a moment. Release and count the seconds until the fold disappears. If the horse is dehydrated, the skin will stand for several seconds.

Swine– Dehydration can event in salt poisoning and often is fatal. Early signs of dehydration in swine include thirst, constipation, peel irritation and lack of ambition. This frequently is followed by nervousness, apparent deafness and incomprehension. Pigs affected past table salt poisoning will exist uncoordinated and take intermittent convulsions.

Stress

Reduced water consumption can be a sign of unfamiliarity, sickness or other stressors. New animals initially may refuse water due to unfamiliarity of h2o sources and differences in palatability.

Water intake in new livestock should exist monitored carefully to make sure they take located the source and are consuming water. With lightweight calves and sheep, be sure the watering source is of adequate height to permit access because animals may not be able to achieve the source.

Water Quality

Water consumption can be impacted by h2o quality. Livestock that are provided low-quality water volition have reduced water and feed intake, resulting in reduced production.

Certain salts and gases in solution, such as those consisting of sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, chloride and sulfate, make h2o more than palatable. Nonetheless, these same salts and gases tin be toxic if nowadays in excess. For more than data, refer to NDSU Extension publication AS1764, "Livestock Water Quality."

Livestock never should be forced to potable dirty or contaminated water. Dingy or stale water can reduce h2o consumption. Providing grazing livestock with fresh h2o has been shown to increment weight gains.

Muddied h2o is a host for disease organisms. Disease can spread speedily if animals potable from the same water source, so ill animals should be isolated and waterers should be cleaned oftentimes.

Waterers can be disinfected using a dilute bleach solution following cleaning. A dilute bleach solution of 2 to three ounces for each l gallons of tank capacity of bleach containing 5.25% sodium hypochlorite applied weekly also will suppress algae growth.

Proper installation of the waterer or tank base will forbid fecal contamination of water. The base should be wide plenty so animals can place their front legs on it easily while drinking, merely not their hind legs. This will continue animals from defecating in the water.

Summary

Water is an important but often overlooked nutrient. Livestock water requirements are affected past many factors, including, size, productivity, diet and environmental weather condition. Expert water quality and cleanliness can increase water intake and improve livestock product. Limited access or reduced water consumption tin issue in dehydration, which can be fatal to livestock.