Water for Dairy cattle
Water for Dairy cattle
Dairy Articles
By Kelly Myers, Dairy Science Graduate; Katharine Knowlton, Assistant Professor of Nutrition; and Gerald M. Jones, Professor and Extension Dairy Scientist; Department of Dairy Science, Virginia Tech.
Table of Contents
Phosphorus requirements
Do cows really need high phosphorus levels in the diet to sustain healthy reproductive cycles?
Why is over-application of phosphorus to cropland of concern?
What can you do?
Summary
Allow for 200-250 litres per cow per day of drinking water in hot weather – double what cows usually need each day. Make sure cows have access to plenty of cool drinking water wherever they are during the day. A large water trough on the exit side of the dairy is a must. Water troughs in every paddock will keep cows grazing longer in hot weather. If they have to leave the paddock to get a drink they may not bother going back! Large volume concrete troughs help keep drinking water cool. Provide a minimum of 0.75m water trough space per cow at your feed-out facility. Water pipes should be 75mm in diameter, with sufficient pressure to provide 20 litres per cow per hour, so that troughs cope with periods of peak demand. Avoid running black poly pipe along the ground, as water will become very hot.
