FARMS:THERE IS growing concern over the loss of water supplies to farms where animals can suffer injury if left without water beyond 48 hours.
While many farms have their own water supply, most rely on group water systems, some of which have been frozen for weeks or are running out of fresh water.
Teagasc has circulated advice to farmers on levels of drinking water required. For instance, milking cows need a minimum of 60-80 litres a day and up to 150 litres a day if they are giving a lot of milk. Beef or dry cows require 40-55 litres daily.
Heavy beef cattle need up to 60 litres of water each day and younger animals and calves between 20-25 litres. Ewes with no lambs need eight to 12 litres a day as do ewes with lambs. Ewes with maturing lambs need five to seven litres a day.
Dr Siobhán Kavanagh, a Teagasc nutrition expert, warns farmers that if animals are left without water for 24 hours, supplies will have to be drawn to them. “Milking cows and finishing cattle on high-concentrate diets should never be left without drinking water.”
The requirements of animals are supplied from the water in the food and from the water consumed voluntarily.
Lactating dairy cows must have easy access to water at all times, Dr Kavanagh added, as these animals cannot afford to be without water for any period of time. About 80 to 90 per cent of water requirements for milking cows are met by drinking water, not feed.
“The dairy cow will consume 30-50 per cent of their total water requirement within one hour of milking. It is important to have a good supply of water available immediately after milking,” the advice continues.
She says some reports would suggest that animals on high-concentrate finishing diets for beef need up to 70 litres of water a day.
Dr Kavanagh also warns that if water has been restricted and then suddenly made available, overdrinking or water toxicity can be a very real problem. “Allow gradual access to the water initially when the animals are extremely thirsty.”