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Water Intake Rates of Cattle

U. S. Department of Agriculture

Abstract

Water intake of cattle is a function of dry matter consumption and ambient temperature. When water intake per unit of dry matter ingested was plotted as the ordinate with ambient temperature as the abcissa, curves were formed that remained horizontal between about 10° and 40° F. then rose with rising temperature at an accelerating rate to 100°. Data on European cattle (Bos taurus) and Indian cattle (Bos indicus) formed separate curves, of which the former is used to estimate water intake of cattle of the familiar breeds. A formula is used to convert water intake of lactating cows to levels comparable to those of dry animals under like conditions of body size, nutrition and air temperature. Positive relationships that have been reported between salt or protein contents of rations are cited to indicate how water intake is influenced by these nutrients. Tables are given showing estimated levels of water intake of cattle, the estimated levels compared with the actual water intake levels used as the basis of this study, and actual intake of a limited number of beef animals under feed-lot and range conditions. Water requirements of cattle in feed lots can be reduced during brief periods of water shortage by a reduction in dry matter intake.

¹ Animal and Poultry Husbandry Research Branch, A.R.S., Beltsville, Md.

² Biometrical Services, A.R.S., Beltsville, Md.

³ Grateful acknowledgement, of numerous helpful suggestions made during the preparation of this paper, is due Joseph F. Sykes, Dairy Husbandry Research Branch, A.R.S., U.S.D.A., Beltsville, Md.

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