Water Quality Flashcards
Water guidelines?
*most important nutrient for animals
-livestock- guidelines available
-Pets- none; can use human guides
Factors affecting water requirement
- temperature
- Activity level/workload
- Physiological status (pregnant, growing)
- Type of ration (high concentrates vs high forage)
Types of watering systems for livestock
*Ground or surface water
-wells, troughs, dug outs, rivers/ponds/lakes, automatic, indoor systems (nipple/swig drinkers)
Sources of water contamination
-soil
-nearby industrial operations
-agricultural run-off (manure, fertilization)
-animals within the water defecating and urinating
What influences contamination of water?
Weather
-rainfall (brings things into water, but also dilutes it)
-snow melt
-drought (results in concentration within the water)
Time of year and water access
- Evaporation
-hot weather - Freezing
-issues with mechanics of water pumps
-prevents access; results in competition
Poor water quality and animal health
Decreased performance (growth, reproduction, milk production)
Chronic vs acute poor water consumption
Chronic more common acute poisoning from water is rare
*exceptions exist
Water quality testing
-follows specific guidelines for various components of water
Total dissolved solids
Total concentration of ions soluble in water or total salts in the water
-positive charge: Na, Ca, Mg
-negative charge: SO4-, Cl, HCO3-
**higher in ground water than in surface water
What do higher salt levels do to water?
More salts= more charge= greater ability to conduct electricity
More salts= poor palatability
What is acceptable for total dissolved solids?
What are Sulfates (SO4)? and where do they come from?
includes sodium sulfate, magnesium sulfate, calcium sulfate (parts of TDS)
comes from soil, rock, effluent from industry
*also consider total dietary sulfur exposure
Health issues from high sulfates
-decreased intake: palatability
-diarrhea
-decreased copper absorption in ruminants
-polioencephalomalacia
Sulfate acceptable levels
sulfates should be lower than TDS because they are a component of TDS
Secondary Copper deficiency from high sulfate ingestion
Copper, molybdenum, sulfates form an insoluble complex
*Cu is important for enzymes
*Tyrosinase- Cu dependent enzyme involved in pigment formation
What do copper deficiencies result in at the herd level?
-diarrhea
-high open rate
-unthrifty
-increased infections
Polioencephalomalacia from sulfate ingestion
- common in ruminants
-uncommon mechanism but believed that high levels and metabolize into hydrogen sulfate gas, burb it up and ingest
-see star gazing, wandering, twitching, chewing, nystagmus, blindness, recumbency, seizures
Nitrate and nitrite in water
-commonly from high nitrate in forages, or from agriculture run-off
-ruminant issue
Results in methemoglobinemia= blood cannot carry oxygen, then acute respiratory distress and death
Metals and mineral sources
-from rocks, or from industry
-trace minerals are not a significant contribution to dietary needs
Issues with high levels or metals and minetals
Not really a cause of poisoning
BUT
Palatability issues from metallic taste
-includes iron, copper, Manganese, zinc
pH factors in water
6.5-8.5
-alkalinity: hydroxide, carbonate
-Na, K
Temperature of water
4C-15C
Water hardness
Levels of Mg and Ca in the water
Coliforms
The bacteria that will show up within the water. Due to diarrhea/feces in the water
*could be related to water treatment in the area
Water associated toxicological issues
-blue green algae
-water deprivation sodium ion toxicosis (salt poisoning)
-water hemlock
-botulism
Water testing
-water quality varies year to year (even within a season)
-need at least yearly testing as a baseline, and also test if any concerns about water quality or performance
