1. Water quantity and quality for dairy cattle By Virginia Ishler Dairy Alliance Nutrient Management

2. Water – an important nutrient Total body water content of dairy cattle is 56-81% of their body weight.  Transport nutrients to and from cells  Nutrient digestion and metabolism  Elimination of waste material  Excess heat (perspiration)  Proper fluid and ion balance  Fluid environment for the fetus

3. Water – an important nutrient Loss of water from the body occurs via:  Milk production (25-35% of total water intake)  Fecal (30-35% of total water intake)  Urine (15-21% of total water intake)  Sweat  Vapor loss from the lungs

4. Water Quantity 80-90% of the cows water needs comes from drinking water. Amount of water consumed depends on  Body weight  Age  Milk yield  Dry matter intake  Temperature  Relative humidity  Water temperature, quality, and availability  Moisture content of the feed

5. Predicting water intake Equation 1  Total water intake (lbs./day) = (4 x DMI ) + 4%FCM + 25.6  Drinking water intake (lbs./day) = Total water intake – ration water intake* *Ration water intake =DMI/%DM - DMI 4%FCM = (0.4 x lbs. milk) + [15 x (% fat/100) x lbs. milk]

6. Predicting water intake Equation 2  Water intake (lbs./day) = 35.25 + 1.58 x DMI (lbs./day) + 0.90 x milk yield (lbs./day) + 0.11 x sodium intake (grams/day) + 2.65 x weekly min temp o C What is the difference in predicted water intake using these 2 equations?

7. Example: How much H 2 O will this cow consume? Information needed  Milk production = 80 lbs. of 4% FCM  Dry matter intake = 54 lbs.  Ration dry matter content = 45%  Sodium intake = 44 grams  Mean temperature = 70 o F or 21 o C o F to o C = ( o F – 32) x 0.5555

8. Equation 1 – Includes ration water content Total water intake (lbs./day) =  (4 x 54 lbs ) + 80 lbs + 25.6 = 321.6 lbs. of water Drinking water intake (lbs./day) =  321.6 lbs. – 66 lbs.* = 255.6 lbs or 30.7 gallons. * 54 lbs. DMI/0.45 – 54 lbs = 66 lbs. of ration water.

9. Equation 2 – Includes Na and Temperature Water intake (lbs./day) =  35.25 + (1.58 x 54 lbs./day)  + 0.90 x 80 (lbs./day)  + 0.11 x 44 (grams/day)  + 2.65 x 21 o C 120.57 + 72 + 4.84 + 55.65 253.1 lbs or 30.4 gallons

10. Estimated water intake for a 1,350 lb. lactating cow producing 40 – 100 lbs. Milk prod.DMIMean Min. Temp. a lbs./daylbs./day 40 o F50 o F 60 o F 70 o F 80 o F 4042 18.420.2 22.0 23.7 25.5 6048 21.823.5 25.3 27.1 28.9 8054 25.126.9 28.7 30.4 32.2 10060 28.530.3 32.1 33.8 35.6 Source: Water for Dairy Cattle. Guide D-107. New Mexico and Oklahoma Cooperative Extension. a Mean min. temp. is 10 to 15 o F lower than mean daytime temp. b One gallon of water weighs 8.34 lbs. gallons per day b

11. Additional comments on factors affecting water intake… What about diets containing very high moisture ingredients, i.e. wet brewers, high moisture silages?  Decreased drinking water is affected more by the decline in DMI than the moisture content per se. Metabolic water  During metabolic oxidation, water yields (ml/g tissue) are 1.07 from fat, 0.40 from protein, and 0.50 from carbohydrates. Metabolic oxidation contributes metabolic water, however, this is an insignificant source.

12. What about non- lactating animals? Dry cows  7 to 13 gallons per day. Calves and heifers  1 mo – 1 to 2 gal.  2 mo – 1.5 to 2.4 gal.  3 mo – 2.1 to 2.8 gal.  4 mo – 3.0 to 3.5 gal.  5 mo – 3.8 to 4.6 gal.  15 – 18 mo – 5.9 to 7.1 gal.  18 – 24 mo – 7.3 to 9.6 gal.

13. Drinking Behavior Water consumption is usually associated with feeding or milking.  Cows may consume 30-50% of the drinking water intake within 1 hour after milking.  Rates of 1 to 4 gallons per minute (higher value in free-stall barns)  One watering device for every 15-20 cows or 2 feet of tank space per 20 cows.  Ideally, waterers should be located at milking parlor exit and within 50 feet of the feed bunk (or at every crossover in freestall barns).

14. Drinking Behavior Research at MSU – pattern and quantity of water consumed.  First calf heifers- avg. 63 lbs milk 16.7 gallons of water in 13 drinks daily 17.7 minutes spent drinking, avg. drink was 1.4 gal and the rate was 1 gal/min.  Older cows – avg. 83 lbs milk 23.6 gallons of water in 14.9 drinks per day. 19.1 minutes spent drinking, avg. drink was 1.9 gal and the rate was 1.2 gal/min.

15. Drinking behavior – Heat Stress USDA research showed total water loss from the body increased by 58% in non-lactating cows at 86 o F vs. 68 o F. (sweat)  Loss of water in feces decreased 25%, but increased 54% & 26% via respiration and urine. Lactating cows increased drinking water consumption 29% in warmer temp.  Fecal water loss dropped 33%, but loss of water via urine, skin surface and respiratory evaporation increased 15%, 59% and 50%, respectively.

16. Drinking behavior – Heat Stress Cows consume less water in high humidity vs. low humidity environments.  Water intake is very DMI driven. DMI decreases during hot, humid conditions.  Reduced ability by the animal to employ evaporative heat loss mechanisms.

17. Drinking behavior – Heat Stress NO STRESS MILD STRESS MEDIUM STRESS SEVERE STRESS

18. Water temps between 60 o -80 o F appear most acceptable to dairy cattle. Research studies conducted in Texas and Florida examining effects of chilled water (50 o F).  Variable milk production response.  Cows prefer warm water over chilled. Costs associated with chilling are not warranted. Chilled water has to be the only source if used. Drinking behavior – Water Temp.

19. Water Quality pH Total dissolved solids Sodium, potassium, sulfate, chloride  Affects on the dry cow ration Nitrates

20. Water pH - Acidosis Recommendations - pH 6.5 to 8.5 Lower and higher water pH has been blamed for acidosis problems.  Water may be a contributing factor, but the ration and the physical environment has a greater impact than water ever would. Focusing on water only will not solve an acidosis problem.

21. Total Dissolved Solids - Intake Salinity  Sodium, Chloride, Bicarbonate, Sulfate, Calcium, and Magnesium  No differences observed in drinking water intake on high saline water (TDS = 4,400 mg/L) vs. low saline water during cool temperatures. Differences observed during the summer months.  Higher water intakes observed on high saline water vs. normal.

22. How does water affect dry cow rations? Specifically – DCAD –  Dietary Cation Anion Difference Cations are Sodium and Potassium Anions are Chloride and Sulfur Example:  1400 lb dry cow  DMI is 30 lbs.  Water intake is 11 gallons or 92 lbs.

23. Water - DCAD Diet Avg. waterFarm A waterFarm B water Variable% of DMppm ppm ppm K 1.609 20 9 Na 0.1522 34 22 Cl 0.8520 20 250 S 0.4036 36 500 DCAD, mEq/100g DM -1.40 -0.013 0.07-1.63

24. Water - DCAD Diet + Water, mEq/100g DM -1.413 -1.33-3.03 Total meq/day -196 -161-868 Diet Avg. waterFarm A waterFarm B water Variable% of DMppm ppm ppm K 1.609 20 9 Na 0.1522 34 22 Cl 0.8520 20 250 S 0.4036 36 500 DCAD, mEq/100g DM -1.40 -0.013 0.07 -1.63

25. How does water nitrate level affect dairy cattle?

26. Nitrate – General Information Nitrate  In the rumen – source of N for synthesis of bacterial protein Can be reduced to nitrite  Nitrites reduces oxygen-carrying capacity of hemoglobin  Symptoms of acute nitrate poisoning Asphyxiation and labored breathing Rapid pulse Frothing Blue muzzle/bluish tint around eyes Chocolate-brown blood

27. DMIFeed NO 3 -N FactorNO 3 -N intake lbs. ppm mg Corn silage14.3 1200.454 7791 Haylage7.9 580.454 2080 Hay1.7 200.454 154 Shelled corn9.2 30.454 125 Canola4.6 20.454 42 Roasted beans3.1 24.454 34 Soybean meal (HT)1.4 20.454 13 Cottonseed hulls3.6 3.454 5 Cookie meal4.1 15.454 28 Sugar2.1 - - - Min-vit mix1.9 - - - 54.0 10,272 Ration Nitrates

28. DMIFeed NO 3 -NFactorNO 3 -N intake lbs.ppm mg Corn silage14.31200.454 7791 Haylage7.9580.454 2080 Hay1.7200.454 154 Shelled corn9.230.454 125 Canola4.620.454 42 Roasted beans3.124.454 34 Soybean meal (HT)1.420.454 13 Cottonseed hulls3.63.454 5 Cookie meal4.115.454 28 Sugar2.1--- Min-vit mix1.9--- 54.0 10,272 Water 25820.454 2343 Total 13,070 Nitrates: Ration + Water

29. Nitrates – Total Ration 13,070/454,000 / 54 x 100 = 0.053% NO 3 -N content of total diet as %DM (Reasonable level is 0.04 to 0.09%) Possible problemsTotal diet, ppm Noneup to 400 Impaired infertility401-1300 Reduced gains1301 – 1700 Clinical symptomsover 1700 Convert % to ppm - 0.053% X 10,000 = 530 ppm

30. Nitrates – Worse Case Scenario

31. DMIFeed NO 3 -NFactorNO 3 -N intake lbs.ppm mg Corn silage14.31200.454 7791 Haylage7.9580.454 2080 Hay1.7200.454 154 Shelled corn9.230.454 125 Canola4.620.454 42 Roasted beans3.124.454 34 Soybean meal (HT)1.420.454 13 Cottonseed hulls3.63.454 5 Cookie meal4.115.454 28 Sugar2.1--- Min-vit mix1.9--- 54.0 10,272 Water 258200.454 23,426 Total 33,698 Nitrates: Ration + Water

32. Nitrates – Total Ration 33,698 /454,000 / 54 x 100 = 0.14% NO 3 -N content of total diet as %DM (Reasonable level is 0.04 to 0.09%) Possible problemsTotal diet, ppm Noneup to 400 Impaired infertility401-1300 Reduced gains1301 – 1700 Clinical symptomsover 1700 Convert % to ppm - 0.14% X 10,000 = 1400 ppm

33. General Recommendations Test suspected forages/water Suspected or high nitrate forages  Introduce gradually -adaptation reduces risks  Limit meal size  Feed more frequently  Feed at least 3-5 pounds of grain  Limit dry matter intake/single meal if forage contains > 1100 ppm NO 3 -N.

34. Summary Water is important – both quantity and quality.  Very little research is available to define lower and upper limits of when problems will occur.  Rely on commonsense Handling problem herds  Water is unlikely the sole problem, but it may be a contributing factor.  Nutrition and feeding management affect cows more that water, under normal conditions.  If water quality is an issue, calves, young stock, and dry cows probably are experiencing problems as well as lactating cows.