Transcript 2008-09 Cow Calf Clinic

2008-09 Dakota
Cow/Calf Clinic
February 4, 2009
Roxanne Johnson
NDSU Extension
Water Quality Associate
Source: Roxanne Johnson
Objectives
Cattle water needs
Options for water sources
Common water contaminants
Rate of gain research done in Canada
Wyoming Lit Review results
Options for improving water quality
Livestock Needs
Domestic animals
60 days without feed
7 days without water
Source: Roxanne Johnson
Limiting access to water depresses
animal performance more quickly and
drastically than any other nutrient
deficiency
Livestock Water Consumption
Intake Needs are Dependent on:
Species and size of animal
Physical condition
Level of activity
Dry matter intake
Quality of water
Temperature
Species and size of animal
Temperature
Optimal
temperature
between
40 - 65°
Energy-free livestock water fountain.
(Photo courtesy of Ritchie Industries Inc.)
Water Consumption
Dry matter intake
Water Consumption
Physical condition
Level of activity
Source: Roxanne Johnson
Water Consumption
Quality of water
pH
Bacteria/algae
Total dissolved solids
Sulfates
Nitrates
Source: Roxanne Johnson
Most important!!!
Livestock
need free
access to
water….
Water Sources
Wells
Streams
Rivers
Rural water systems
Hauling water from other sources
Dug-outs
Quality of Water
Arsenic
Fluoride
Sodium
Sulfate
Nitrogen
Selenium
Barium
Molybdenum
Chloride
TDS
pH
http://ces.uwyo.edu/PUBS/B1183.pdf
ELEMENTS
SHORT
EXPOSURE
CHRONIC
EXPOSURE
RATIONALE
ARSENIC
1 mg/L
1 mg/L
Does not seem to be a carcinogen in livestock, therefore a concentration
which protects against cytotoxic effects should be sufficient.
BARIUM
NR
NR
Until there is better data we cannot make any firm recommendations.
FLUORIDE
2 mg/L
2 mg/L
Prevent dental lesions in most sensitive life stage. Fully mature animals
may be able to tolerate more.
MOLYBDENUM
2 mg/L
0.3 mg/L
Prevent secondary Cu deficiency and poor performance.
NITRATE
500 mg/L
500 mg/L
Prevent acute death and abortion in well-managed cattle. Dry diets high
in NO3 may require lower concentrations.
NITRITE
100 mg/L
100 mg/L
Prevent acute death and abortion in well-managed cattle. Dry diets high
in NO3 may require lower concentrations.
pH
NR
NR
There is considerable evidence that animals tolerate a much wider range
than the commonly cited 6.5 – 8.5.
SELENIUM
0.1 mg/L
0.1 mg/l
Prevent selenosis in equidae. Can probably tolerate slightly high
concentrations for very short periods.
1000 mg/L
Assuming normal feedstuff Na concentration and no other water sources,
these concentrations should protect against acute lethality or chronically,
poor performance.
Assuming normal feedstuff S concentration, acute death may occur in
ruminants at concentrations greater than 2000, especially if not allowed
time to acclimate. Long-term consumption result in poor performance.
SODIUM
4000 mg/L
SULFATE
1800 mg/L
1000 mg/L
TDS
NR
NR
We do not recommend relying upon TDS to evaluate water quality for
Common problems
Source: Roxanne Johnson
pH
Bacteria/algae
Total dissolved solids
Sulfates
Nitrates
pH
< 7.0 acidic
>7.0 basic or alkaline
Not unusual to see 9.0 – 9.5
Cattle prefer 6.5 to 8.0
Influences taste
Bacteria
Substance
Desired range
E coli/100 colonies/ 100mL
< 126 colonies/ 100mL
Fecal coliform/100 colonies/
100mL
< 200 colonies/ 100mL
Source: North Dakota Dept of Health
Fecal contamination
• E coli an indicator of other pathogens
• common when livestock have direct access
to water
• cattle will not refuse water until .25%
• source of illness
Bacteria Transported in
Water and Mud
• Leptospirosis
• Reproduction problems
• Extended life in surface water
• Fusobacterium – “foot-rot”
• Soil-borne organism
• Carried on feet of animals
• Transferred through cuts, bruises, or puncture
wounds on damaged feet of other animals
Blue green algae
Cyanobacteria…not an algae!
warm, sunny weather
stagnant water
high in nutrients (esp. phosphates)
appear as a film of green paint on water surface
bacteria die, release toxins concentrating on pond
edge
• toxicity is unknown until livestock die
•
•
•
•
•
Red algae
Source: Roxanne Johnson
Source: Kasia Kinzer
Source: Roxanne Johnson
Gomphosphaeria aponina
Total Dissolved Solids
TDS
A measurement of all constituents
dissolved in water
Inorganic anions
Carbonchlorides
Sulfates
Nitrates
Organic cations
Sodium
Potassium
Calcium
Magnesium
TDS level
Usefulness for cattle
< 1500 ppm
Usually satisfactory for most livestock
1,500 – 3,000 ppm
Good
3,000 -4,000 ppm
Fair
4,000 – 5,000 ppm
Useable
5,000 – 7,000 ppm
Diarrhea in lactating cows
> 7,000 ppm
Unsatisfactory. May cause brain
damage or death.
Source: Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food
Safe levels
of
potentially toxic
nutrients and
contaminants in
water
for
livestock.
Element
ppm
Arsenic
5.0
Copper
0.5
Fluorine
2.0
Nitrate-N
100.0
Nitrite-N
10.0
Selenium
0.05
Sulfate
1,000.0
Zinc
25.0
Source: NDSU Extension
Water Quality Report
SULFATES
1,756 ppm
TOTAL DISSOLVED SOLIDS
2,980 ppm
•Within maximum tolerant level for TDS
but over sulfate level
•Does not include sulfate from DDG’s or
or other high sulfate feed
Sulfate Toxicity
• PEM – polioencephelomalacia
“brainers”
• High iron and sulfate levels may bind
and prevent the absorption of copper
and zinc
Nitrates
Nitrate level (NO3)
Reaction
0 – 440 ppm
Considered safe
440 – 1300 ppm
Exercise caution. Consider
additive effect with nitrates in
feed.
5,000 – 10,000 ppm
Decline in condition and health
Source: NDSU Extension
• Carried to ponds with runoff from heavily fertilized or
manured fields
• Shallow wells
• Include feedstuffs in total allowance
Canadian Studies
Walter Willms
Evaluated the significance of improving
water quality for animal consumption
using inexpensive treatments….
•Aeration
•Coagulation
•Direct access
•Well (with high sulfates)
Willms study
1999-2003
Animals reacted to impurities
decreasing water intake
decreased feed intake
decreased animal performance
reduced rate of gain
decline of general health
Research Results
Source: Roxanne Johnson
• 9% greater weight
gain in calves with
cows drinking water
from trough vs.
dugout
• 16 -19% increase in
weight for steers in
same study
Animal Weight Gain: Dugout
Versus Trough Water (per day)
Gains in
pounds
Source: Willms, W.D., 1996. Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada and Alberta Agriculture, Stavely, Alberta.
Research Results
Yearling heifers
gained 23% more
weight with
clean/fresh water
Source: Roxanne Johnson
Research Results
Treating pond water by
aeration or coagulation
increased average daily gain
by steers 8.2% and 9.3%
respectively
Source: Roxanne Johnson
When cattle are fenced out
of pond water and the water
is pumped to a tank, the
performance equaled cattle
fed well water.
Improvements to increase
cattle performance
Limit access to dugout
• Fence dugout area
• Access ramp
• Pump water out of dugout to trough
Access ramp
• Minimum
improvement
• Large herds in
remote locations
• Provide better
footing
•Start 10-15 feet
back from water’s
edge
• Low slope of 5 -6 ft
for each foot of drop
• Gravel layer 1 ft
thick
Pump water to a trough
• Eliminates cattle introducing contaminates
• Aeration of the water improves palatability
• Extends life of dugout
• Decreased erosion and sedimentation
• Increased vegetation of riparian area
• Decreased degradation by cattle
Pump water from dugout
to a trough
Gravity-fed system
Pump water from dugout to a trough
Pumped gravity
flow reservoirs
Automated gas
powered
generator
system
Source: Roxanne Johnson
Pump
Systems
Dickinson,
ND
Pump water to a trough
Sundog
Sundog
Wind powered
pumping system
Source: Roxanne Johnson
Pump water from dugout
to a trough
Solar powered
pumping system
Solar West
Pump water from dugout
to a trough
Solar powered pumping
system
Sundog
Increased catchment
Plant trees and
vegetation to
catch snow and
filter runoff
Increased
catchment
Capture up to
60% of annual
precipitation
Trees and
snow fence
to collect
snow
Other
Pipelines
Using:
Wind
Electricity
Solar
Gravity
Cost share
EQIP
Considerations
What are your options?
•Number of livestock
•Expected peak water
consumption/animal unit
•Water pumping or drinking time
required/day
•Pump and well capacity
•Distance to farthest watering
point
•Vertical lift from the pressure
tank to the watering point
•Friction loss in the pipeline
•Float valve pressure
requirements
•Future expansion
Rotational Grazing?
Water in every pasture?
How to get the water there?
Assess pitfalls:
1. Expansion capacity.
2. Surface laid pipe heats up and weakens pipe. Use higher pressure
rated pipe. More expensive.
3. Friction loss charts assume new pipe.
4. Air bubbles in high spots restrict flow unless flushed out or released.
5. Use valves that produce minimum back pressure to maintain water
flow.
6. Multiple users of water reduces flow.
7. Pumping well at higher rate than it can handle.
8. Make sure your pipe has the appropriate inside diameter.
Rural Water
SW Water Authority, Dickinson
$1,500 sign up (depends on line size) plus construction
Contracts require 100,000 gal
use/yr
Rates - $2.49/1,000gal
5 year agreement
Can tie into man holes with a
meter
(located ⅛ to ½ mile apart)
How do I know?
Test
your
water
every
year
Certified labs …
www.ag.ndsu.nodak.edu/abeng/waterquality.htm
“Sometimes
the cow just
didn’t read
the book”
Source: Roxanne Johnson
Dr. Art Case
Dean of Veterinary Toxicology
University of Wyoming
Resources
Sundog (formerly Kelln Solar)
Carl Driedger (Cromer, MB) 202-556-2346
John Gaschler (Oxbow, SK) 306-483-5250
Solar West
Jim Hopfauf, 3360 58th Street, Flasher, ND 58535
701- 597-3546
www.solarwest.ca
Pump Systems, LLC
Keith Gartner, Dickinson, ND
SW Water Authority, Dickinson, ND
Rachelle Weiler 701-225-0241
Questions?
Source: Roxanne Johnson
More information on Canadian Study
Willms study
1999-2002
74 acres
crested
wheatgrass
and alfalfa
222 acres fall
rye and
russian
wild rye
Source: Willms, W.D., 1996. Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada and Alberta Agriculture, Stavely, Alberta.
Willms study
1999-2002
Lined
Coagulation
Cell
Dugout
Unlined
Coagulation
Cell
Corral
Direct Entry
Untreated
Aerated
Pump House
Water Trough
Source: Willms, W.D., 1996. Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada and Alberta Agriculture, Stavely, Alberta.
Divided dugout
Source: Willms, W.D., 1996. Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada and Alberta Agriculture, Stavely, Alberta.
Willms study
2003 plan
Well water
Crested
wheatgrass
/alfalfa
Russian
wild rye
Source: Willms, W.D., 1996. Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada and Alberta Agriculture, Stavely, Alberta.
Trials
• 11 yearling steers in each study (44 total)
• 11 more added in 2003 for the well
treatment
• 40 1st calf heifers w/ calves 2000-2002