Water Intake

[Anonymous]

I am considering adding rotational grazing to my operation. In order to do this I will have to haul water to a few of the paddocks. Is there a general rule to determine the amt of water a cow will drink daily? I live in North Texas if this helps.

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[Anonymous]

According to the Cow-Calf Management Guide, "Amount of water needed varies by class of stock and season of use. Lactating cows and calves consumed 15 gallons per day in Oregon studies, whereas dry cows drank 10 to 12 gallons. Yearling heifers need 8 to 9 gallons per day for a summer period . . . Water intake will be less on green forage in spring and when weather is cool."

I suspect this study was done in the dry, high desert part of Oregon.

> I am considering adding rotational
> grazing to my operation. In order
> to do this I will have to haul
> water to a few of the paddocks. Is
> there a general rule to determine
> the amt of water a cow will drink
> daily? I live in North Texas if
> this helps.

 

[Anonymous]

There is also some data about water consumption and the distance a cow has to travel for water. The greater the distance the less water consumed. Also, forage is most efficiently used if the cow doesn't have to travel more then 500 feet to access water.

dunmovin farms

> According to the Cow-Calf
> Management Guide, "Amount of
> water needed varies by class of
> stock and season of use. Lactating
> cows and calves consumed 15
> gallons per day in Oregon studies,
> whereas dry cows drank 10 to 12
> gallons. Yearling heifers need 8
> to 9 gallons per day for a summer
> period . . . Water intake will be
> less on green forage in spring and
> when weather is cool."

> I suspect this study was done in
> the dry, high desert part of
> Oregon.