|
|
TSS (mg/L) |
Comments |
| < 1000 | Safe and should pose no health problems. |
| 1000-2999 | Generally safe but may cause a mild temporary diarrhea in animals not accustomed to the water. |
| 3000-4999 | Water may be refused when first offered to animals or cause temporary diarrhea. Animal performance may be less than optimum because water intake is not maximized. |
| 5000-6999 | Avoid this water for pregnant or lactating animals. May be offered with reasonable safety to animals where maximum performance is not required. |
| > 7000 | These waters should not be fed for cattle. Health problems and /or poor production will result. |
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Nitrate and sulfate are also common components in Total Soluble Salts. Nitrate recommendations in drinking water are shown in Table 2. Most likely the water nitrate concentration recommended limits (>440 mg/L) will not result in visible disease condition. A general recommendation for sulfates is less than 500 mg/L for calves and 1000 mg/L for adult cattle. When sulfates exceed 500 mg/L, the specific salt should be identified. Hydrogen sulfide is the most toxic form and concentrations as low as 0.1 mg/L can reduce water intake. Common forms of sulfate in water are calcium, iron, magnesium, and sodium. All are laxative, but sodium sulfate is the most potent. Excessive levels of sulfates may also reduce the absorption of other minerals like copper and selenium, and creating a need for adjustments in dietary supplemental levels.
Table 2. Nitrates in Water (NRC, 2001)
| Nitrates
|
Guidelines for Ruminants |
| 0-44 | Safe for consumption. |
| 45-132 | Generally safe in balance diets with low nitrate feeds. |
| 133-220 | Could be harmful if consumed over long periods of time. |
| 221-660 | Cattle at risk, upper limits may affect rate of gain, fertility, and possible death. |
| > 660 | Unsafe, may cause suffocation, in coordination or staggering, and possible death, should not be used as a source of water. |
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Minerals that have to be considered for analysis and the guidelines for assessing them in the drinking water for cattle are described in Table 3. These minerals have to be included in the total mineral balance in diets of all animal categories. The mineral mix supplements have to be formulated according to the deficits and/or the animal's requirements. Based on the normal composition of feeds and drinking water, tailor made mineral mixes have to be developed for each dairy farm.
Table 3. Minerals in the Drinking Water (Zinpro Water Analysis Program, Version 2.0, 2002)
| Mineral (mg/L) | Desired Levels* | Maximum Upper Levels** |
| Calcium | < 100 | 200 |
| Chloride | < 100 | 300 |
| Copper | < 0.2 | 0.5 |
| Iron | < 0.2 | 0.4 |
| Magnesium | < 50 | 100 |
| Manganese | < 0.05 | 0.5 |
| Phosphorus | < 0.7 | 0.7 |
| Potassium | < 20 | 20 |
| Selenium | < 0.05 | 0.1 |
| Sodium | < 50 | 300 |
| Sulfur | < 50 | 300 |
| Zinc | < 5 | 25 |
As mentioned earlier, the effects of some water characteristics on livestock are not definitely known. However, it is felt that hardness and pH (physiochemical properties) do not affect water consumption. Water troughs are also an important source of exposure of cattle to bacteria including the human foodborne pathogens. Coliforms, salmonella, and E. coli 0157 have been isolated from livestock water. For this reason, it is important to clean and sanitize the water trough regularly.
Remember, water is the most important nutrient for dairy animals. Water should always be available to your animals in a clean, fresh abundant supply. Cows producing 100 pounds of milk per day need almost 40 gallons of water for each cow. If it is the first time that you are going to analyze the water in your farm, you should also include microorganism and possible toxic nutrients. An improperly balanced and/or overfeeding mineral is just wasting your money. It also may be affecting animal performance (health and productivity), and the quality of your soils. All the minerals in excess of dietary requirements will be excreted in feces and urine. Whether in dry manure or in lagoon water some of these minerals will be applied to the soil. It is a good idea to check the water quality for the animals at least twice a year (winter and summer) and consult your nutritionist to include the contribution of your water to the total diet mineral balance.
Adapted from:
Castillo, Alejandro R. and John H Kirk. "Drinking Water Guidelines for Dairy Animals". University of California, Davis. Cooperative Extension. 2004
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Alkalinity
The amount of bicarbonate, carbonate of hydroxide compounds present in water solution.
Total Alkalinity
A measure of the ability or capacity of water to resist change in pH. Also known as the buffering capacity of water. Expressed as ppm and consists mainly of carbonates, bicarbonates and hydroxides.
It is important to note that the proper range for alkalinity is between 120-160 ppm. If a potable water supply falls below the threshold of 120 ppm, proper chlorination will not occur.
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