Don't forget water at pasture

WATER is the single most important requirement for cows at pasture and it’s often the most overlooked, warns DairyCo extension officer Adam Clay.

“Cows need at least 60 litres each per day and some high yielding cattle may need up to 100 litres,” says Adam. “Milk yield is closely related to water quality, availability and intake. 

“Make sure you are meeting the cows’ water requirements by providing enough water, good access to the water and at the right times of day.

“Water trough space should be adequate for 10% of the herd to drink at the same time. To allow cows to drink freely the rim of the water trough should be 75cm above ground level,” Adam explains. “Water needs to be clean and its flow should be sufficient to allow rapid refilling of the trough, so that plenty of water is always in front of the cow. Cows can drink up to 14 litres per minute, so 10 cows drinking at the same time can consume 140 litres every minute! 

“In the field cows should not have to walk more than 250 metres to a drinking trough, and water troughs should also be made available in the collecting yard, just after milking and on route to the grazing areas, as peak time for drinking is after milking.”

“Muddy, poached areas around a water trough can become a real breeding ground for flies, spreading disease. Make sure troughs are away from the wind, which can surprisingly easily cause spillage and poaching in the access area. 

“While making sure grazing cows have plenty of good clean water can seem like an impossible job it is well worth the effort. You can use an electric fence to help give access to one centrally located water trough if you are strip grazing a field.”

DairyCo’s revised grass management programme grass+ has a comprehensive factsheet on water at pasture. To receive a copy call DairyCo on 01285 646510.

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