Importance of Water

Water is the most important nutrient for dairy cattle. Dairy cattle need free access to a clean, quality source of water for optimal production. Water intake is affected by factors such as environmental temperature, ration dry matter content and milk production. A high-producing lactating dairy cow can drink over 150 litres of water on a hot day. One important, but often overlooked, aspect of nutrition is the quality of water.

There are 5 criteria to consider when assessing water quality including:

1)Odour and taste
2)Physical and chemical properties
3)Presence of toxic compounds
4)Concentration of mineral compounds
5)Microbial contamination (e.g., bacteria, protozoa, viruses)
These 5 Steps should always be looked after.