COWS AND THEIR WATER SUPPLY

King Country Chronicle, Volume VIII, Issue 714, 21 October 1914, Page 7

COWS AND THEIR WATER SUPPLY

It is known that cows producing a heavy yield of milk require more water than those that are light milkers. In an American test, it was found that a cow producing an average of two and a-half. gallons of milk daily coi,sumed nearly eight gallons of water, while another producing one and a-quarter gall ions of milk a day consumed only four gallons. In this case the consumption of water waa approixmately in the same ration as the production of milk. The ration was identical for both ani mals, with the exception that the larger producing cow consumed more grain and grass than the other. In the record of the Josephine, it is officially stated thta "on the 28th day after calving this Holstein cow produced 10 gallons of milk, and she consumed on that day 23 gallons of water. On the 3!st day after calving she produced 10J gallons of milk and consumed 27 gallons of water. On the 32nd day she produced 10 gallons of milk approximate, and consumed 30£ gallons of watel. The ration fed while this test was being made was composed approximiately of 181b of lucerne, and 101b of ensilage, andl 81b of grain daily. The judge's report thus comments: "The large water requirement by the cow in milk suggeta, as has been found by practical experience, that it is exceedingly important to supply an abundance of good water to cows producing milk. It is evidently much more important that an abundance of water close at hand, and not too cold, be supplied Eo heavy milking cows, than is the case when the animals are on maintenance only. Cows that are not producing milk do not need to be watered more than once a day in the winter time, and at this season they do not seem to care for it oftener than this. In summer the consumption of water by cattle on maintenance is greater on account of the greater evaporation from the Bkin, and while cattle, will thrive when watered once a day, they relish it oftener, and will do better if supplied twice a day. Cows on heavy feed producing heavy quantities of milk should always have access to good water at least twice a day at all seasons. For the best results with dairy cows, water of good quality should be provided." <