Water
Why is water important?
Most essential nutrient for life
~60% of adult body
greatest daily requirement
Evaporative heat loss is?
Bring blood closer to skin so that water evaporates
cutaneous and respiratory
Water balance is?
Body maintains a constant level of water
No water storage in body
How to measure water intake
In line water meters, included water intake from ration if feeding fermented forages
What are the basic functions of water?
Major component in body metabolism
Major factor in thermoregulation
Non-evaporative heat loss is?
Conduction - heat loss from one object to another
Convection - Air blowing against skin to take heat away
Radiation - Loss of heat by electromagnetic rays
Different water sources for livestock
Drinking or free water - Most important source of water
Water contained in feedstuffs - Dont look at this as a source of water
Metabolic water - Arises from metabolic reactions in the body
What affects water quality?
Organoleptic properties - odor and taste
Physico-chemical properties - ph, hardness
Presence of toxic compounds - heavy metals
presence of excess minerals or compounds
Presence of bacteria or blue green algae
How does water help with body metabolism?
Its a universal solvent
Transports nutrients and waste products
Works in chemical reactions
Helps with cushioning, and lubrication of organs
High specific heat capacity is?
Is a heat buffer - 1 cal/g of water to raise temp by 1degree
Why does water intake vary?
The species of animal
Age and physiological state of an animal are important for consumption
Lactating cows need more water
What features does good quality water have?
Clear and colourless
Low total solids
No disease organisms or pesticides
No undesirable flavour or odor
How does water help with thermoregulation?
Sources of heat in the body
Helps with heat dissipation through evaporative heat loss and non-evaporative heat loss
High thermal conductivity is?
Heat transfer from deep body tissues to surface
What factors affect water requirement
Environmental conditions - temperature - animals in summer = more water
Water content of diet - higher moisture = less drinking water consumed
Amount, type of feed consumed - higher protein = more water vs more salt = more water
Temp of water - not a major factor
Physiological state
Health status - diarrhea = more water
How to check water quality?
if you suspect quality problem - change in water intakes, drought, odor change, taste, appearance
take representative sample
Other uses of water in a livestock production
Cleaning things
Growing feed
Household uses
Cooling of animals
High latent heat of vaporization is?
580 cal of heat to convert 1 g of water from liquid to vapour
Panting, sweating efficient ways to lose heat
Some symptoms of water deprivation?
Reduced feed intake
Increased heart rate
Increased body temp
Increased respiration
Lack of muscle coordination
Sunken eyes and shriveled skin
death
Sand filters to remove algae, OM, trace minerals
Reverse osmosis to remove nitrates, Fe, Sulfates, Reduces hardness and total solids
To expensive to use for livestocks