Invited Review: Water consumption, and drinking behavior of beef cattle, and effects of water quality

This review describes water intake, drinking behavior, and water quality for beef cattle during the cow-calf, stocker, and feedlot phases of beef production. Results from published scientific literature investigating water quality and factors effecting water intake and drinking behavior in cattle are summarized in this manuscript. The authors relied on their beef cattle research and production experiences to interpret the results of this literature search and reach the conclusions described within this review. Water intake predictions of Winchester and Morris (1956) are likely adequate for water budgeting purposes for groups of cattle, provided DMI is estimated accurately. Factors that potentially limit water intake, such as limited water availability and excessive total dissolved solids should be avoided. Cattle can tolerate, although frequently with reduced performance, total dissolved solids concentrations in water up to 7,000 mg/L provided the salts in question do not include significant nitrates or sulfates. Ruminal water turnover rate, rumen bypass, frequency of water consumption, and environmental factors that influence water consumption likely contribute to the variation in the concentrations of nitrate and sulfate required to induce a toxicity. Providing cattle ad libitum access to clean fresh drinking water is imperative to optimize animal health and production efficiency. Routine water analysis in conjunction with feed analysis is critical for appropriate water quality management. When water contaminants exceed maximum tolerable concentrations, blending water from various sources to reduce the effect of contaminants or reducing the dietary concentration of the contaminant (e.g., sulfur) may be beneficial.