By Andi Anderson
Water is often called the forgotten nutrient, but it plays a crucial role in livestock health and productivity. While crops can survive with rainfall alone, livestock need both quantity and quality in their water sources.
Cattle are made up of 58% to 81% water. A lactating cow’s milk is about 87% water. On average, beef cattle require one gallon of water per 100 pounds of body weight daily. In hot weather or during lactation, this need can double.
Factors like forage type, weather, and water quality influence intake. Young spring forage contains about 80% moisture, reducing the need for additional water. However, as forage matures and dries, more clean water must be made available.
A cow usually drinks 2 to 5 times a day, consuming 2 gallons per minute. If water is located more than 900 feet away, cattle tend to visit less often, often as a group. This can lead to dominant animals preventing others from drinking.
In a 2024 Ohio State University pilot study, researchers observed 32 heifers fitted with RFID tags to measure visits to the waterer and water intake. Heifers closer to the waterer (less than 400 yards) visited three times a day and drank 4.5 gallons per day.
Those further away (up to 893 yards) only visited twice and drank 3 gallons per day. Average daily gain (ADG) dropped from 3–4.5 lbs to 1.5 lbs per day due to longer travel distance.
Recommendations include placing waterers within 700–900 feet of the herd, ensuring a minimum height of 18 inches, and providing at least 3.5 inches of drinking space per animal. Waterers should recharge at 2 gallons per minute per drinking animal.
Proper planning and placement of water sources help boost livestock performance and maintain herd health.
Photo Credit: ohio-state-university
Categories: Ohio, Livestock, Sustainable Agriculture