Fluid requirements for suckler cows

Re: Fluid requirements for suckler cows

Tim Cheyne — Tue, 06 Jul 2010 10:04:13 GMT

I still think that your estimates are too low. I would consider free access for the dam to 50 Litres over 24 hours as an absolute minimum even in a temperate climate unless the cow is a miniature breed. Presumably you do not need to take into account any liquid requirement of the calf if you are satisfied that its needs all come from the milk that it sucks?

Tim.

Re: Fluid requirements for suckler cows

Hannah Wynne Richards — Tue, 06 Jul 2010 09:00:43 GMT

Thanks Micheal I was working on 50ml/kg + 2 galls= 9l milk, which was higher. Possible court case, so can't give any details yet. I would rather give a low figure, and be able to vigorously defend it in the witness box, rather than give a higher figure, and have a defence expert witness argue-you can totally forget the contribution from food in this case !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Wynne

Re: Fluid requirements for suckler cows

Michael Woodhouse — Mon, 05 Jul 2010 23:54:14 GMT

Use 2% bodyweight + milk [+ other losses]. 600kg suckler, 10 litres of milk a day = 22 litres.

Now it depends on the diet as to how much of that needs to be provided as water, grass can have a dry matter ranging from 10% (very wet) to ~25/30%. If the cow was eating 50kg of grass @ 20% DM that's 40 litres there!

Too many variables; temperature, shelter, activity, feed, milk yield, breed.

Milking cows need to eat and drink significantly more.

You can never work out an absolute value.

May I ask why?

Re: Fluid requirements for suckler cows

Tim Cheyne — Mon, 05 Jul 2010 16:29:49 GMT

[quote user="Hannah Wynne Richards"]

Does antone have a figure for the daily water requirement for a suckler cow with calf (2 to 3 months ) at foot ?

Wynne

[/quote]

It depends very much upon the environment. On high-yield dairy cows I allowed (over 24 hours) four litres of clean cool potable water for every litre of milk produced plus four litres for every kilo of dry concentrate fed. Slight overkill, perhaps, but better to be safe. A skin pinch test (eyelid) should give you some indication of the dam becoming dehydrated.

Tim.