Livestock Water Quality - North Dakota State University

Livestock Water Quality

A Field Guide for Cattle, Horses, Poultry and Swine

Livestock Water Quality

A Field Guide for Cattle, Horses, Poultry, and Swine

Andrew A. Olkowski, PhD., DVM., MSc., BSc., (Biochemistry) University of Saskatchewan

Disclaimer

This publication and the information, opinions, and recommendations contained in it are presented as a free general public service, and not intended to serve any particular reader's needs. Readers are advised that the Minister and Department of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) make no assurance or warranty of any kind, either express or implied, as to the publication or its content, including, without limitation, any assurance or warranty concerning the accuracy, completeness, reliability, or suitability or fitness for purpose of the information, opinions and recommendations contained in it. Responsibility for any and all risks associated with the interpretation and any use or application of the contents of this publication rests solely with the reader. Readers using or applying the information, opinions, and recommendations contained in it do so upon the express understanding and agreement that AAFC and its Minister, officers, servants, employees, and agents shall not be liable for any damages or losses whatsoever, whether direct or indirect, consequential, incidental, special or general, economic or otherwise, that may arise out of the reader's interpretation, use, or application of the information, opinions, and recommendations contained in it. While AAFC endeavours to provide useful and reasonably accurate information, opinions, and recommendations, readers accept that this disclaimer means that NO LIABILITY shall attach for the use or application of the information, opinions, and recommendations

contained in this publication.

? HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN IN RIGHT OF CANADA 2009 as represented by the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada

Foreword

The ultimate objective of the work undertaken here was to arrange an assembly of information on water quality issues and contaminants using various original research papers, textbooks, and other reputable sources, into one concise, and easy-to-interpret manual. This manual is intended to provide fundamental information to livestock and water quality specialists and other professionals on a wide range of water quality parameters and related physiological and/or toxicological effects. Many producers may also find the information useful in identifying problems and symptoms relating to water quality.

While preparing this document, a deliberate attempt was made to minimize the "excessive scientific" content, while focusing on factual interpretation of the knowledge in the context of practical applicability of the information. However, it is not uncommon that different scientific sources discussing seemingly the same water quality issues provided divergent results. Therefore, it is important to understand that data comparability may be a major problem in evaluation of water quality. In particular, it may be difficult to determine what is correct and what is incorrect, especially with the "experts" often disagreeing. In this context, the user of this guide should to be aware of a broad range of conflicting results or differing expert opinions. It is likely important to note cases where this occurs so that it is clear that the author felt the controversy worthy of mention.

While compiling the information for this guide, the author did not simply report the existing discrepancies, but rather, attempted to resolve conflicting information in the context of the overall knowledge of physiology, biochemistry, nutrition, and toxicology.

Although an effort was made to provide comprehensive interpretation of water quality data, it is important to understand the complex nature of biological responses of animals, in particular those that are genetically selected for high production traits. In this context, it is imperative that the high metabolic demand associated with constantly increasing production goals is taken into consideration in assessment of water quality standards, especially in the face of the increasing complexity of water contaminants.

There is a noticeable insufficiency of recent information on many aspects of water quality issues in contemporary livestock selected for superior performance characteristics. Without comparative research using today's high performance genetics, interpretation of water quality data is problematic at minimum.

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