Page 17 - MWC 8-10-2023s

WATER QUALITY The Midwest Cattleman · August 10, 2023 · P17

Water is the most critical mentary question, but it is as
nutrient but often overlooked essential for water quality as
for its importance and contri- anything else. The common
bution to animal nutrition. adage comes to mind, “If you
Cattle require an adequate, wouldn’t drink it, why make
available supply of fresh your animals drink it?” This
water to enable metabolic concept reinforces the im-
processes of the body. Under- portance of supplying cattle
standing issues influencing with a clean source of water.
water quality and intake are Cleaning water troughs and
vital to beef herd nutrition tanks at regular intervals to
and management. An im- avoid the build-up of impuri-
portant task is to have water ties or growth of organisms
tested to make informed nu- will encourage consumption
trition decisions for the cattle and keep issues associated
under your care. with unclean water at bay.
Sample water for laborato- Excessive amounts of min-
ry analysis using a clean plas- erals dissolved in water can
tic container. The container be detrimental and create an harms cattle unless extreme- cumulation of scale on water
then needs to be rinsed re- opportunity for mineral an- ly high. delivery systems. Clogging can
peatedly with the water to be tagonism. Antagonists bind Hardness is caused by cat- potentially reduce water
tested. Samples must come with free trace elements, pre- ions calcium, magnesium, availability and intake.
from the site of discharge venting their absorption and ferrous iron and manganous Sulfates
into the tank or trough and creating secondary deficien- ions. If the topsoil is thick or Sodium sulfate is a com-
not be taken by dipping into cies. Trace minerals provided limestone is present, water is mon sulfate salt found in
the tank directly. This helps in an organic form are more generally hard. If rock forma- water, along with calcium
to avoid contamination by bioavailable to the animal tions are absent and topsoil sulfate and magnesium sul-
feed, saliva, or other pollut- and less apt to interact with is thin, water is soft. Hard- fate to a lesser extent. All
ants. Exceptions to this pro- antagonists. ness does not usually affect these sulfates act as a laxa-
cedure would be if sampling Salinity the palatability or safety of
a stock dam, stream, or pond. Salinity, often referred water but can cause an ac- continued on page 22

Water quality and to as total dissolved sol-
consumption ids (TDS), is a measure of
Water quality can affect total salts suspended in the
how much is consumed and water. High TDS levels are
the overall health of the herd. an indicator of poor-quality
Odors or tastes can influence water. According to Gadber-
water intake, impacting feed ry (2016), cattle prefer water
intake, weight gain, repro- containing some salt. At TDS
duction and health. Many levels above 5,000 ppm, in-
tastes and odors come from take and average daily gain
characteristics that can be are reduced. Levels from
evaluated in a simple water 7,000–10,000 ppm are safe
test. The amount of water for dry cows under low levels
consumed varies from one of environmental stress, and
animal to the next. Age, stage TDS levels over 10,000 ppm
of production, type of ration should not be used. Diarrhea
and weather all contribute and weight loss are possible
to how much water is needed at extremely high TDS. Cat-
and consumed. tle can adapt to saline water
Components typically over time, but sudden change
evaluated in a water quality to high-saline water can be
analysis include: fatal.
•Physical and chemical pH & Hardness
properties The acidity or alkalini-
•The concentration of ty of an aqueous solution is
macro- and micro-minerals represented by its pH. Solu-
•The presence of toxic tions with a pH of less than
compounds 7 are acidic, while solutions
•Microbial contamination with a pH over 7 are basic.
These factors can affect The acceptable pH range for
the palatability of drinking water consumed by beef cat-
water and even the animal’s tle is 6–8.5 (Herring, 2014).
digestive and physiological Alkalinity is caused by car-
functions. bonates, bicarbonates and
Is the water provided
clean? This might be an ele- hydroxide ions and rarely