This article contains a summary that analyzes the purpose of water for livestock suitability

German, Dave

Thiex, Nancy

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South Dakota State UniversityOpen PRAIRIE: Open Public Research Access InstitutionalRepository and Information ExchangeExtension Extra SDSU Extension3-1-2004Interpretation of Water Analysis for LivestockSuitabilityNancy ThiexSouth Dakota State UniversityDave GermanSouth Dakota State UniversityFollow this and additional works at: http://openprairie.sdstate.edu/extension_extraThis Other is brought to you for free and open access by the SDSU Extension at Open PRAIRIE: Open Public Research Access InstitutionalRepository and Information Exchange. It has been accepted for inclusion in Extension Extra by an authorized administrator of Open PRAIRIE: OpenPublic Research Access Institutional Repository and Information Exchange. For more information, please contact michael.biondo@sdstate.edu.Recommended CitationThiex, Nancy and German, Dave, "Interpretation of Water Analysis for Livestock Suitability" (2004). Extension Extra . Paper 65.http://openprairie.sdstate.edu/extension_extra/65Total soluble salts(TDS) content ofwaters, mg/L or ppm2Comments___Less than 1,000 Relatively low level of salinity.  Excellent for all classes of livestock and poultry.___1,000-2,999 Very satisfactory for all classes of livestock and poultry.  May cause temporary and mild diarrhea in livestock not accustomed to the water or watery droppings in poultry.   ___3,000-4,999 Satisfactory for livestock, but may cause temporary diarrhea or be refused at first by animals not accustomed to the water.  Poor water for poultry, often causing watery feces, increased mortality, and decreased growth, especially in turkeys.___5,000-6,999 Can be used with reasonable safety for dairy and beef cattle, for sheep, swine, and horses.  Avoid use for pregnant or lactating animals.  Not acceptable for poultry.___7,000-10,000 Unfit for poultry and probably for swine.  Considerable risk in using for pregnant or lactating cows, cattle in confinement, horses, or sheep or for the young of these species.  In general, use should be avoided although older ruminants, horses, poultry, and swine may subsist on them under certain conditions.___Over 10,000 Risks with these highly saline waters are so great that they cannot be recommended for use under any conditions.1Water Quality Criteria 1972, EPA, Washington, D.C.2"Milligrams per liter" (mg/L) is the same as "parts per million" (ppm).___ Water with an alkalinity over 1000 mg/L (ppm)3is considered unsatisfactory for livestock.3"Milligrams per liter" (mg/L) is the same as "parts per million" (ppm).ExEx 2042March 2004Animal and Range SciencesCOLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE & BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES / SOUTH DAKOTA STATE UNIVERSITY / USDAInterpretation of Water Analysis for Livestock SuitabilityNancy Thiex, Olson Biochemistry LaboratoriesDave German, Water Resources InstituteSample No._____General Guide to the Use of Saline Waters for Livestock and Poultry1Guide to the Use of Waters Containing Alkalinity for LivestockNitrate-nitrogen (NO3N) content, mg/L or ppm5     Comments___Less than 100 Experimental evidence indicates that this water should not harm livestock or poultry.___100 to 300 This water should not by itself harm livestock or poultry. If hays, forages, or silages contain high levels of nitrate, this water may contribute significantly to a nitrate problem in cattle, sheep, or horses.___Over 300 This water could cause typical nitrate poisoning in cattle, sheep, or horses, and its use for these ani-mals is not recommended.  Because this level of nitrate contributes to the salt content in a significant amount, the use of this water for swine or poultry should be avoided.4Olson, O.E., R.J. Emerick, L. Lubinus.  Nitrates in livestock waters. PS603, Cooperative Extension Service, SDSU, Brookings.5"Milligrams per liter" (mg/L) is the same as "parts per million" (ppm).Sulfate (SO4) contentmg/L or ppm6 Comments___Less than 1500 No harmful effects except some temporary very mild diarrhea near upper limit.___1500-2500 No harmful effects except some temporary diarrhea.  In cattle, this water may contribute significantly to the total dietary sulfur intake.7,8___2500-3500 Poor water for poultry, especially turkeys.  Very laxative, causing diarrhea in livestock that usually disappears after a few weeks.  In cattle, this water may contribute significantly to total dietary sulfurintake.7,8___3500-4500 Very laxative.  Not recommended for use for pregnant or lactating cows, cattle in confinement, horses, or sheep.  Unacceptable for poultry.  In cattle, this water may contribute significantly to the total dietary sulfur intake.7,8___Over 4500 Not recommended for use under any conditions.6 "Milligrams per liter" (mg/L) is the same as "parts per million" (ppm).7 Note: The suggested maximum concentration of sulfur in the diet of cattle to prevent polioencephalomalacia is 0.4% (4000 mg/kg or 4000      ppm) on a dry matter basis.  Divide sulfate content by 3 to convert to sulfur content, e.g., 3000 mg/L S04  = 1000 mg/L S. 8 Loneragan, G.H., D.H. Gould, R.J. Callan, C.J. Sigurdson, D.W. Hamar.  12-1-98.  Association of excess sulfur intake and an increase in     hydrogen sulfide concentrations in the ruminal gas cap of recently weaned beef calves with polioencephalomalacia. JAVMA 213(11). Issued in furtherance of Cooperative Extension work, Acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, in cooperation with the USDA. Larry Tidemann, Director ofExtension, Associate Dean, College of Agriculture & Biological Sciences, South Dakota State University, Brookings. SDSU is an Affirmative Action/EqualOpportunity Employer (Male/Female) and offers all benefits, services, and educational and employment opportunities without regard for ancestry, age,race, citizenship, color, creed, religion, gender, disability, national origin, sexual preference, or Vietnam Era veteran status.ExEx 2042, 2004. Access at http://agbiopubs.sdstate.edu/articles/ExEx2042.pdfGuide to the Use of Waters Containing Nitrates for Livestock and Poultry4Guide to the Use of Waters Containing Sulfates for Livestock and Poultry 

Interpretation of Water Analysis for Livestock Suitability

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Interpretation of Water Analysis for Livestock Suitability

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