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Beef
Cattle Management - Water Consideration
NOTE:
Water
requirements of cattle may double during hot weather. If cattle
don’t have enough water, they may refuse to eat, experience
lower production and become sick. |
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In some areas
you may be able to develop a spring or seep (a flow of 1/2 gallon
per minute amounts to 720 gallons per day). Consider the possibility
of installing a larger storage tank and piping water to troughs.
You may need to install high-pressure plastic pipe to carry water
from a central source. Although expensive initially, pipelines will
prove useful for many years. Hauling stock water is expensive. However,
it may be a viable strategy in some situations.
One
concern about cattle drinking stagnant pond water during hot, dry
weather is that animals can die if the water contains certain species
of blue green algae. If
you suspect blue green algae, contact your veterinarian or county
agent to determine which samples would be appropriate for your situation.
If concentrations of blue green algae are suspected, walk around
to the windy side of the water body. If any dead animals such as
mice, muskrats, birds, snakes or fish are present, assume a poisonous
condition exists.
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