Surface Water Quality for Cattle

Bob Buchanan, Regional Engineering Technologist, Alberta Agriculture, Barrhead

Water tank for cattle.

During the summer months most cattle producers rely on surface water sources for their cattle on pasture. Dugouts, sloughs and creeks are all common pasture water supplies. Although a dependable water supply is important, so is the water quality.

Surface water sources are especially susceptible to contamination from chemical substances washed in during the spring and summer runoff. Agricultural, industrial and petroleum based chemicals can be toxic and interfere with cattle health, milk production, growth rates and reproduction. Some types of blue green algae are also toxic to cattle. Toxic substances can also cause subcellar damage that leads to increased susceptibility to disease or parasitic invasion.

Some physical, chemical and bacteriological properties of water can also affect its palatability (taste) and suitability for cattle. Excessive levels of salinity, hardness, colour, turbidity, bad taste and odour and bacteria contamination can all deteriorate water quality. In some situations, animal health is affected and in others poor tasting water can cause cattle to drink less and reduce feed intake, which in turn reduces production.

A few important recommendations pertaining to cattle and water quality are:

• Observe the cattle and water source regularly during the summer.
• Test the water - when there are any signs of contamination.
• One method to control blue green algae growth is with treatments of copper sulphate (bluestone) or hydrated lime. Keep in mind that hydrated lime is a corrosive chemical. Safety equipment must be worn while handling to protect skin and eyes from chemical burns. Some caution is required when using copper sulphate on heavy growths of blue green algae because of the sudden release of algae toxins. In these situations, the cattle should removed from the water for a period of about two weeks. The use of hydrated lime is preferable in these situations because of the overall improvement in water quality.
• Blue green algae often appear as grass clippings in the water and a bluish-green scum on the surface and along the edges of the dugout.
• Pump water to the cattle wherever possible to protect the water source and improve water quality. It is no surprise that cattle actually prefer drinking from a stick tank rather wading to their bellies in mud for a drink.

Remember good water quality is important. It may be your next step towards improving cattle production.