Livestock water requirements (09/22)

Australia’s variable climate means it is vital to have adequate water available to meet the broad range of water requirements on a property. Dryland farmers rely most heavily on groundwater sources such as bores, springs and wells and use surface water sources such as rivers, creeks and lakes when available. On-farm dams or tanks are also an important source. Some local governments have strategic water supplies which are generally only for emergency use.

When considering farm water supply and storage needs, it is important to understand how much water is required annually for livestock, farm operations such as crop spraying, firefighting, maintenance and households including gardens.

LIVESTOCK REQUIREMENTS

The water requirements for livestock depends on both environmental factors and the characteristics of the animal and so the values in Table 1 are a guide only. When considering how much water is required for livestock, it is important to allow far more than the peak needs of an animal, so there is enough water for extended dry periods or if there are infrastructure issues such as a broken pipe or tank.

INFLUENCING FACTORS

Breed differences

Both the breed of sheep and cattle influence the animal’s water requirements, with British breed sheep requiring about 20% more water than Merinos and Bos indicus cattle breeds such as Brahman require less water than Bos taurus breeds such as Angus or Hereford cattle.

Age, production status and condition

Lactating animals can require up to twice as much water as dry animals and older or weaker stock require more water than younger and or healthier stock. Sheep that are wooly or newly shorn will have different water requirements, particularly in summer as they will pant more to cool themselves.

Temperature

In hot conditions, an animal’s water requirements dramatically increase, as more water is required for evaporative cooling. In northern Australia, a rise in temperature from 25 °C to 35 °C can almost double the water required for cattle, particularly if conditions are also very humid. Providing shade to both stock and water sources in these conditions greatly reduces water requirements. Typically, with good quality water, water consumption can be 40 per cent higher in summer than winter. The temperature of the water also impacts water consumption with animals preferring water at or below body temperature.

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