JANUARY 2007 PRIMEFACT 326 (REPLACES AGFACT A0.5.

4)

Water requirements for sheep and cattle

Greg Markwick
Salinity
Formerly Livestock Officer (Sheep)
The main factor which determines the suitability of
water for stock is the proportion of dissolved salts
WARNING in the water. Dissolved salts in water are expressed
Chemical residues and pollutants in milligrams per litre (equivalent to parts per million
Contamination of water supplies by chemicals and – ppm) or in terms of the electrical conductivity of
other pollutants is a risk, particularly in mixed the water, measured in decisiemens per metre
farming areas, where the use of pesticides and (dS/m) or microsiemens per centimetre (µS/cm).
herbicides is common. Producers should be aware Maximum advisable levels are shown in Table 1.
of the risks involved in the use or misuse of these
compounds. Contamination of ground water or (1 dS/m = 1000 µS/cm = approx. 640 mg/L or 640 ppm.)

catchment areas could lead to intake of chemicals

Generally, surface waters are low in salts
by stock and wildlife. While there may not be any
compared with artesian or underground water.
direct toxic effect on the stock, some chemicals can
Many factors influence the concentration of salts
stay in the animal as residues which may render
that animals can tolerate in their drinking water.
the produce of that animal unfit for consumption
Salinity increases the intake of water by animals,
and expose the owner to the cost and
partly through the taste and partly to allow greater
inconvenience of quarantine or prosecution or both.
water turnover so that the body can regulate the
Water is an essential nutrient for all animals. It is salt balance.
important for both animal welfare and business
profitability that sheep and cattle have an adequate Acidity or alkalinity (pH)
supply of good quality water. Amount and quality of
Water with a pH value below 6.5 (acid) or above
water required vary between species of livestock,
8.5 (alkaline) can cause digestive upsets in stock,
between classes of stock within the species, and in
resulting in rejection of the water, depressed
response to the environment in which the stock are
appetite and consequent loss of production. If this
running (see Table 2).
problem is present, animals may perish, even when
The suitability of water for stock use is they apparently have adequate water.
determined by the following factors:
Adding alum can correct high pH, but this should
• water quality, which includes salinity, acidity, be undertaken with care as alum is highly acidic.
toxic elements and compounds, and algal Likewise, water with a pH below 6.5 can be treated
growth; by adding lime.
• environmental factors such as air temperature
and feed quality; Toxic elements and compounds
• animal factors, which include breed differences Water is a potential source of important minerals
and age and condition of stock. and other compounds. However, the concentration
of these substances can reach toxic levels,
particularly in underground water.
Water quality
There are a number of elements which, if present
Quality of water is broadly defined as its fitness for
in high enough concentrations, can lower livestock
consumption by livestock to maintain satisfactory
productivity. These include iron, magnesium,
production. The principal factors affecting water
arsenic, lead, mercury, selenium and the fluorides.
quality are as follows.
Where productivity losses are suspected, the
problem can be investigated by a veterinarian or
livestock adviser. Such an investigation would under extreme conditions. The provision of shade
include a detailed water analysis, combined with an will largely relieve this situation. In normal
examination of affected stock. conditions with good quality water, consumption in
summer will be about 40 per cent higher than in
Algae growth or bloom winter. However, with salty water the summer
intake may be 50 to 80 per cent higher than
Algae occur naturally in both fresh and brackish consumption in the cooler months.
waters. They respond to sunlight and fertilisers,
and when environmental conditions are right, algal The amount of water that stock drink also depends
growth may occur that can make water unpalatable on the temperature of the water. Generally, animals
to stock. prefer water at or below body temperature and
avoid warmer water. Cool water is preferred in hot
Algal blooms are excessive growth of particular conditions.
algal species. Blooms are most likely to occur
when the water is still, warm and contains high Marginal quality water may become unsatisfactory
nutrient levels. during summer because animals drink more
because of high temperatures and drier pasture.
All algal blooms can cause water use problems.
The salinity of some water may also increase
However of most concern are those caused by
because of evaporation from troughs, bore drains
blue-green algae, as a number of these are toxic.
and shallow tanks.
Currently in NSW, only Coptrol Aquatic Algicide®,
Cupricide Algicide® and Cupricide 110 Algicide® are Drought
approved for the control of blue-green algae and
some other algae types. They must be used in During drought, stock require more water as they
strict accordance with their label conditions and are forced to select more fibrous and less
directions. These products are registered for use in digestible feed. This extra water is used to maintain
farm dams, rice paddies and irrigation conveyance the movement of the coarse feed in the gut. As
systems. They must not be used in rivers, streams, drought worsens and stock become weaker,
creeks, wetlands, lakes or billabongs, and water marginal waters may become unsuitable as the
treated with these products must not be allowed to animals’ tolerance of the salt decreases.
spill into these water bodies. Feeding salt or salt-based licks or blocks during dry
periods increases water intake. If water quality is
Environmental factors marginal, this added salt intake may depress
appetite and cause digestive upsets – the opposite
of the supplement’s purpose.
Temperature
In hot weather, animals use more water for Pasture composition
evaporative cooling. For example, shearing
increases the heat load on sheep in summer The diet of stock has a large influence on their
because the insulation formerly provided by the water requirement. Good green pasture can supply
fleece is lost. The sheep adjust to this heat load by all an animal’s water needs. Sheep under these
increasing evaporative cooling through panting. conditions may not need to drink for many weeks.
Water consumption can increase by 78 per cent Good pasture allows stock to use water which

Table 1. Tolerances of livestock to total dissolved solids (salinity) in drinking water (mg/L)

Stock Desirable maximum Maximum concentration at Maximum concentration that

concentration for healthy which good condition might be may be safe for limited periods*
growth expected*

Sheep 5,000 5,000–10,000 10,000–13,000

Beef cattle 4,000 4,000–5,000 5,000–10,000

Dairy cattle 2,500 2,500–4,000 4,000–7,000

Horses 4,000 4,000–6,000 6,000–7,000

Pigs 4,000 4,000–6,000 6,000–8,000

Poultry 2,000 2,000–3,000 3,000–4,000

* The level depends on the type of feed.

Adapted from Australian and New Zealand Guidelines for Fresh and Marine Water Quality 2000.

PRIMEFACT 326, WATER REQUIREMENTS FOR SHEEP AND CATTLE 2

would normally be unsuitable at higher levels of Watering points
consumption.
The consumption of water can be affected by the
cleanliness of the watering point.
Table 2: Average water requirements of stock
Where the water level in an earth tank is low,
animals may be forced to wade through mud to get
Stock type Consumption
to the water. Due to the boggy surroundings, the
Per head per day (L)
water becomes heavily contaminated with
Sheep suspended soil and faeces, which can make stock
Weaners 2–4 reject the water. Also, animals in weak condition
may become bogged and die.
Adult dry sheep
– grassland 2–6 Feral pigs can create the same effect by wallowing
– saltbush 4–12 along the water’s edge.

Ewes with lambs 4–10 Such dams should be fenced off and the water
pumped or gravitated to temporary troughing. This
Cattle will ensure maximum use of the available water by
Lactating cows avoiding fouling, and will remove the risk of stock
– grassland 40–100 losses from bogging.
– saltbush 70–140
Troughs used in watering systems should be
Young stock 25–50 drained and cleaned regularly. Algae grow in
Dry stock (400 kg) 35–80 troughs, producing unpleasant odours in the water
which can repel stock. Salinity also builds up due to
Horses 40–50 evaporation if troughs are not drained.
Notes The frequency of cleaning depends mainly on the
Figures quoted for consumption have a wide range; this temperature, which affects intake and the rates of
variation is explained in the text. evaporation and algae growth. The type of stock
When planning water supply requirements, allow for will also have some influence on the frequency of
evaporation losses and consumption by native and feral cleaning, as tolerance of contamination varies
animals. according to the requirements of the particular
class of stock.

Stock on dry pasture need increased water Contamination of trough water need only be very
consumption to utilise the less digestible fodder. slight to cause problems with some stock.
Instances have been recorded of weaner sheep
In pastoral areas, stock grazing saltbush or other refusing water because of a thin layer of dust on
chenopod plants require large quantities of the surface of an otherwise clean trough.
relatively low-salinity water. This is because of the
high level of salt in the diet and the need for a high Care should be taken when introducing stock to
water turnover to maintain the salt balance in the extensive paddocks or unfamiliar watering
body. systems. When introducing stock to a new
paddock, make sure they are familiar with the
location of the watering point and are drinking the
Animal factors water, particularly in pastoral areas. If water quality
is marginal or unknown, check newly introduced
Age and condition of stock stock during the first week to ensure that there is
no problem.
Young animals, heavily pregnant or lactating
females, and aged or weakened stock are less
tolerant of saline water. In weaner sheep, high Watering radius
salinity depresses growth rate and wool production,
In pastoral areas, sheep normally graze within a
and causes scouring.
radius of about 2.5 km of a watering point, and
cattle within a radius of about 5 km.
Breed differences
If stock require more water due to lactation, salinity
British breed sheep need about 20 per cent more or dry feed, they may need to drink more than once
water than do Merino sheep in hot weather. a day. This will reduce their foraging radius and the
Cattle of the Bos indicus or Bos indicus-infused area of the paddock being used.
breeds drink less water under hot conditions than
do Bos taurus breeds (British or European breeds).

PRIMEFACT 326, WATER REQUIREMENTS FOR SHEEP AND CATTLE 3

Feed Quality Service Further information
NSW DPI operates a Feed Quality Service based For information on custom pricing, turnaround
at Wagga Wagga which provides a quality assured times, collecting samples, submission and
analytical service with a fast turnaround time. The reporting procedures, contact the Customer
service is based on the latest technology and is Service Unit on (02) 6938 1957.
fully accredited by NATA.
The Service also participates in all proficiency tests
conducted by the Australian Fodder Industry © State of New South Wales
Association (AFIA). through NSW Department of Primary Industries 2007

ISSN 1832-6668
Packages and sampling kits
Replaces Agfact A0.5.4
The service offers standard packages for rapid
turnaround. The sampling kits are available through Check for updates of this Primefact at:
any NSW DPI office or by contacting the www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/primefacts
Wagga Wagga Customer Service Unit.
Disclaimer: The information contained in this publication is
• Standard Forage package – $53.30 based on knowledge and understanding at the time of writing
(January 2007). However, because of advances in
• By-Products package – $85.00 knowledge, users are reminded of the need to ensure that
• Premium Silage package – $90.00 information upon which they rely is up to date and to check
currency of the information with the appropriate officer of
• Grain and Mixed Feed package – $53.30 New South Wales Department of Primary Industries or the
user’s independent adviser.
We can also offer a tailored package for special
requirements, from the following tests: The product trade names in this publication are supplied on
the understanding that no preference between equivalent
• Dry matter % (DM) products is intended and that the inclusion of a product name
does not imply endorsement by NSW Department of Primary
• Fat Industries over any equivalent product from another
• Dry matter digestibility % (DMD) manufacturer.

• Ash content Job number 7110

• Crude protein (CP)

• Organic matter
• Fibre
• Silage pH
• Metabolisable energy (ME)
• Silage ammonia–nitrogen

PRIMEFACT 326, WATER REQUIREMENTS FOR SHEEP AND CATTLE 4