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Water Quality for Beef Cattle

Cattle drink a great deal of water, and everything in that water goes into the animal. A pond that looks fine can still hold salts, algae or contaminants that hurt performance and health.

Why water deserves attention

Water is the most important nutrient cattle consume, and demand rises with heat, lactation, dry feed and activity. When water is poor, cattle drink less, eat less and gain or breed poorly. Many unexplained herd problems turn out to trace back to the tank or the pond.

Clean, cool and plentiful water is the goal. Taste, smell, temperature and cleanliness all affect how much cattle will drink.

Cattle also judge water by sight and smell. They may avoid a tank that is green, slimy or smells of manure, and that avoidance can quietly cut feed intake all summer. Walk to every water point regularly and look at it the way the cattle would.

Common water problems

Problems fall into a few groups. Dissolved salts and minerals can build up, especially in wells in certain regions and in ponds that shrink in dry weather. Sulfur compounds, nitrates and other contaminants can be harmful. Algae blooms, especially blue-green algae in warm still water, can be toxic. Manure and runoff raise bacteria levels and foul the water.

Livestock can be harmed quickly by some problems, so unusual deaths near a water source call for immediate attention.

• High total dissolved salts
• High sulfur or sulfate
• Nitrate contamination from runoff or fertilizer
• Blue-green algae in warm, still ponds
• Manure contamination and stagnant water

How to test your water

Ask your county extension office or a certified lab how to collect a sample, because the method matters. Use the clean container the lab supplies, sample from the point where cattle drink, and ship it promptly as directed. Sample again in hot, dry weather, since conditions in a pond can change a lot through the season.

Interpretation depends on the class of cattle and the other feeds in the ration, so share the report with your nutritionist or extension specialist instead of reading it alone.

Keep a copy of each report with the date and the source. If a problem appears later, you will have a baseline to compare against, and your veterinarian or nutritionist can see whether levels have shifted.

Algae and sudden deaths

Blue-green algae can form dense scum in warm weather and can poison cattle that drink from the affected water. If cattle are found dead near a pond, or if you see a green or bluish scum, fence cattle off immediately and call your veterinarian. Do not guess at causes. Keep people and pets away from affected water as well.

Keeping water clean

Fencing ponds and providing tanks supplied by a well or pipeline keeps manure and mud out of the water. Clean tanks regularly, fix leaks, and keep trees, wildlife and runoff from fouling supplies. In winter, keep ice open and heaters safe.

Take care with electricity around tanks. Follow the manufacturer's directions and electrical safety guidance, since stray voltage and damaged cords can injure animals and people.

Wildlife, dead animals in a tank and fuel or chemical spills near a water source are other reasons to inspect often. Store chemicals and fuel well away from wells, tanks and ponds, and follow label and safety guidance when you handle them.

Quantity, access and layout

Even clean water fails if cattle cannot get enough of it. Provide enough tank space and flow for the group, place water so cattle do not travel too far, and check that float valves and pumps work. A cow that has to compete or walk a long way will drink less. Check water daily in hot weather.

Questions worth asking

When something looks wrong, a handful of questions can point you in the right direction. Bring test reports and a record of when the problem started.

Medical signs in cattle, such as diarrhea, poor performance or sudden death, should go to your veterinarian rather than being treated on assumption.

• When was this source last tested
• Did the problem start with a weather or season change
• Is runoff entering the source
• Are only some pastures or tanks affected

More in Nutrition, Forage & Grazing

• Water Systems for Pastures
• Forage Testing and Ration Balancing
• Pasture Management Basics
• Rotational Grazing for Beef Cattle
• Grazing Stocking Rates
• Carrying Capacity Calculations