On a sizzling summer season day, there’s nothing higher than a cool drink of unpolluted water to quench one’s thirst. For cattle out on pasture, their want for clear, accessible water is essential for good well being, mentioned the specialists from Kansas State College’s Beef Cattle Institute on a latest Cattle Chat podcast.
“Cattle which can be consuming dry hay might want to eat extra water than cows consuming recent grass, and if they’re in a sizzling setting they’ll drink about twice as a lot water as cows within the winter,” Ok-State beef cattle nutritionist Philip Lancaster mentioned.
In the summertime, Lancaster estimates the cows have to drink about two gallons of water for each 100 kilos of physique weight. And grownup cattle aren’t the one animals on pasture with a necessity for water.
“Regardless that their food plan is especially milk, calves additionally have to drink water to assist their rumen correctly digest any meals they’re beginning to eat,” Lancaster mentioned.
Not solely is it essential to supply water entry for cattle, however the high quality of the water is vital to good well being, Ok-State veterinarian Bob Larson mentioned.
“Anytime cattle will not be hydrated in addition to they might be, they’re suspectable to illness as within the case of pneumonia,” Larson mentioned.
One supply of water for cattle on pastures is ponds.
“When the water high quality is essential, it’s best to maintain the cattle out of the ponds by fencing them out and piping the water to a tank,” Ok-State Analysis and Extension fisheries specialist Joe Gerken mentioned. “Having a pipe that runs by way of an earthen dam regulates the temperature so the cattle will wish to drink extra.”
Another choice is to grant the cattle restricted entry to the pond by fencing them out apart from a gravel path to 1 a part of the pond, Gerken mentioned.
“Relying on the herd measurement, typically talking, this path is from 20-40 toes large, and since it’s gravel, the cattle gained’t linger as lengthy as a result of approach it feels on their hooves,” Gerken mentioned.
He additionally mentioned the gravel retains sediment from filling the pond.
“With this method, the pond could be wholesome, and the cattle can nonetheless get the advantages they want from it,” Gerken mentioned.
To listen to the total dialogue, take heed to Cattle Chat in your most well-liked streaming platform.
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