WATER METABOLISM AND MANAGEMENT IN DAIRY CATTLE


KALİBER M., Dellal G., Pehlivan E.

Uluslararası Katılımlı Süt Sığırcılığı Sempozyumu, Kayseri, Turkey, 24 - 26 April 2014, vol.1, no.1, pp.66

  • Publication Type: Conference Paper / Summary Text
  • Volume: 1
  • City: Kayseri
  • Country: Turkey
  • Page Numbers: pp.66
  • Erciyes University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

The water requirement of world has been increasing howbeit ground-water resources continues to decrease. Demand for limited water resources is increasing rapidly and that limits the available water for agriculture and food security. Water is the primary constituent in the body of livestock, constituting 50% - 80% the live weight of animal. Lactating dairy cows metabolize large amounts of water and are affected rapidly by water deprivation. Total body water, half-life of body water, size of component pools, and exchanges among them have been quantitated in several studies. The data underscore the dynamic nature of water metabolism in lactating cows. Water is lost in milk, urine, feces, and various forms of evaporation. Sources of water include drinking, feed, and metabolic (oxidation) water. Important environmental factors modulating water consumption of dairy cattle are DMI, nature of the diet, milk production, temperature, and humidity. Water supply for livestock is very important to be safe. Ingestion of mineral or organic contaminants can cause poor performance or nonspecific disease conditions.