@article {51461, title = {Free-ranging cattle water consumption in south-central New Mexico}, journal = {Applied Animal Behavior Science}, volume = {39}, year = {1994}, note = {Reprinted with permission from Elsevier, {\textcopyright} 1994. http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/01681591}, month = {1994}, pages = {29-38}, abstract = {

Water-drinking behavior of 67 free-ranging protein supplemented and nonsupplemented beef cattle was examined between May 23 and 16 July 1986, in southcentral New Mexico. The lactating and nonlactating cows had a mean liveweight of 383 kg and were maintained as a single herd, and separated only during supplementation with an automated sorting and single animal electronic identification system. Mean daily water consumption was 57 1 day-1 ( 16 1 ( 100 kg liveweight)-1) at a rate of 20 1 min-1 under mean mid-range ambient air temperatures between 14 and 24{\textdegree}C. Water consumed by cows supplemented at 0.7 kg head-1 day-1 and 1.4 kg head-1 day-1 fed every 5.9 days and 3.5 days, respectively, was 14 1 (100 kg liveweight)-1 \ and 15 1 (100 kg liveweight)-1 (P=0.7238), respectively. In contrast, nonsupplemented cows consumed more (P<=0.0015) water (17 1 (100 kg liveweight)-1) than supplemented cows. Lactating cows consumed more water (P\<0.0001) than nonlactating cows ( 19 1 (100 kg liveweight)-1 and 12 1 (100 kg liveweight)-1, respectively). One drinking event every 24 h was sufficient to satisfy cows 94\% of the time. Neither supplement level nor lactation affected (P\>0.05) daily watering frequency. Water intake was negatively correlated to predrinking liveweight (r= -0.19; P\<0.01) and the current day{\textquoteright}s maximum ambient air temperature if greater than or equal to 30{\textdegree}C (r=-0.11; P\<0.02). Water intake was not correlated to temperatures <=30{\textdegree}C. Water consumption was positively correlated to relative humidities between 15 and 86\% (r=0.17; P\<0.01). Water consumption was not correlated (P\>0.05) with the mid-range or maximum ambient air temperatures of the current or previous day. Our findings indicate large feedings of protein reduced water consumption, probably as a consequence of lower forage intake. Lactation increased water requirements and liveweight was a poor predictor of water needs. Water consumption is affected by biotic and abiotic factors other than those we evaluated.

}, keywords = {cattle, Drinking behavior, feeding, grazing, nutrition}, doi = {10.1016/0168-1591(94)90013-2}, url = {/files/bibliography/432.pdf}, author = {R. R. Rouda and D.M. Anderson and Wallace, J.D. and L. W. Murray} }