Water plays an extremely important role in the metabolism of dairy cows. Dairy cows maintain normal physiology activities and complete the digestion, transportation, absorption, and metabolism of nutrients in the body without water. Water accounts for about 65% of the cow's weight, and the milk's moisture content accounts for about 87%. When sufficient clean drinking water is provided, cows will drink more, eat more, and produce more milk. Cows consume 5 kilograms of water per kilogram of dry matter consumed, and cows need 3 to 5 liters of water for every liter of milk produced. This means that high-producing dairy cows need 150 liters of fresh water daily. In production, some dairy farmers often only pay attention to the supply of refined roughage, and they neglect the important role of drinking water to a certain extent, leading to insufficient drinking water, loss of appetite, slow digestion, slow growth of young cattle, and decreased milk production of adult cattle. Health is seriously damaged. Therefore, we must pay enough attention to the problem of water use for dairy cows in production.
Dairy cows drink water in winter and spring is not less than summer and autumn. The main reason is that there are more green and juicy feedstuffs for dairy cows in summer and autumn, but there are relatively insufficient green and juicy feeds for winter and spring, and the dry matter supply is more. Therefore, we must pay attention to the supply of sufficient water for cows in winter and spring. Insufficient water supply to dairy cows will directly lead to a decline in milk production and trigger other disorders. Dairy cows should avoid drinking ice water, and it is easy to cause indigestion, so as to induce digestive tract diseases and seriously affect their milk production. When drinking cows, it is best to heat the water to 10°C~25°C. In addition, dairy cows need water supply throughout the day and should not press Water. Practice has proved that in the winter, some concentrates will be brewed with boiled water into gruel for cows to drink, which can significantly increase milk production.
First, ensure sufficient drinking water
For conditional farms (households), automatic drinking fountains can be installed in cow houses to allow cattle to drink water at any time. It can also provide water regularly every day, usually 3 to 4 times a day, 5 to 6 times a day in summer. There should be a water tank in the stadium to ensure fresh and clean water supply. In short, regardless of the way water is supplied, it must be ensured that the cows drink enough water. In particular, high-yielding dairy cows cannot afford water shortages.
Second, ensure the health of drinking water
1. Ensure the safety of water sources The sources of water in the dairy farm should avoid pesticides, chemical plants, slaughterhouses, etc. to prevent contamination. The best source of water is tap water. If there is no tap water, if the well water or river water is selected as the water source, the water must be precipitated and sterilized before drinking. Generally, add 6-10 grams of bleaching powder per cubic meter of water or treat it with 0.2 grams of poison. When selecting the well water, it is best to use deep well water. The wells should be covered and sealed to prevent the entry of dirt and sewage. Grazing cows are better at monitoring water quality. Excessive hardness drinking water can generally take cold water to reduce its hardness. When fluoride content in drinking water of high-fluorine area is too high, aluminum sulfate and magnesium oxide can be added to drinking water to reduce the fluorine content.
2. Guarantee drinking water appliances
Drinking water appliances should be kept clean, washed daily and regularly sterilized. Especially in summer, care should be taken to keep it clean. Prevent the growth of microorganisms and deteriorate the quality of water. Pay attention to the hygiene of the sink on the playground and do not ignore it.