Practical Approaches for Managing Stock Water - BCRC Webinar Recap

Water is an essential nutrient for beef cattle, and high-quality water is critical for maintaining animal health and performance. Poor-quality water can contribute to various health and production problems, including reduced reproductive efficiency, poor weight gain, increased risk of disease and even death.

In the Beef Cattle Research Council webinar “Practical Approaches for Managing Stock Water,” Dr. Cheryl Waldner with the Western College of Veterinary Medicine and Karla Hicks of Bluestone Stock Farms discussed their experiences with water management for beef cattle and shared practical, on-farm solutions for managing water quality.

How To Assess Water Quality

Dr. Waldner began the webinar by discussing how to assess water quality. She emphasizes that visual assessment is not a reliable method, as water that appears clean may have issues that are not apparent to the naked eye. Sending water samples to a laboratory for testing is the best way to determine quality.

Water Sample Collection Tips:

• Use a clean one-litre jug per sample site.
• Avoid debris when collecting the sample.
• Flush lines and rinse container before sampling.
• Keep the sample cool.
• If specific tests are required, contact a testing lab to ensure proper procedures are followed.

Initial water screening using an electrical conductivity meter can help producers decide whether further lab testing is needed.

Electrical Conductivity (EC) Meter Guidelines:

• The higher the electrical conductivity is, the higher the total dissolved solids (TDS) in the water.
  • TDS = concentration of inorganic salts in the water.
• EC values above 2,000 should be sent to a laboratory to confirm levels.

How Poor-Quality Water Can Affect Your Herd

Common problems that can occur when beef cattle are consuming poor-quality water include:

• Blue-Green Algae Toxicity
  • Toxins impact the liver and nervous system
  • Can result in sudden death
  • Run-off increases the risk of blue-green algae
  • To reduce risk of promoting bacterial growth, pump water to trough, aerate and treat with copper sulfate
• Nitrate and Nitrite Toxicity
  • Causes respiratory distress, abortions and sudden death
  • Typically caused by fertilizer run-off into shallow wells and surface water
  • Risk comes from combined intake from both feed and water, not just one source alone
  • Can lead to human health concerns
• High Water Sulfates
  • Dugouts can contain high levels of sulphate
  • High levels can result in polioencephalomalacia (polio)
  • Greater risk of illness in cattle when weather conditions are hot, leading to concentration of sulphates in surface water sources due to evaporation

Don’t Overlook the Trough: Tips for Better Quality Water

Keeping water troughs clean is an obvious, but sometimes overlooked, factor in ensuring cattle have access to fresh water. Dr. Waldner and Karla both shared beneficial management practices for keeping troughs clean.

• Use a scrub brush to remove dirt and debris.
• Get as much debris out as possible.
• Use the appropriate concentration of bleach to clean. (Apple cider vinegar is an alternative cleaning agent.)
  • Let it dry in the sunshine before refilling.
• Regularly clean troughs so debris does not build up.

Copper Deficiency in Beef Cattle

Water that is high in sulphates, which is a major cause of poor-quality water, can lead to secondary copper deficiency. Sulfur works with molybdenum to reduce copper absorption and can also directly tie up copper and selenium, making these important minerals less available to the animal.

Signs of Copper Deficiency in Cattle:

• Decreased reproductive performance
• Impaired immune system
• Loss of colour in coat
• Unthrifty (not thriving normally) or stunted growth
• Lameness

What Can Beef Producers Do to Prevent Copper Deficiency:

• Supplement trace minerals
• Feed test
  • Remember, nutritional issues in beef cattle typically result from multiple contributing sources

From Challenge to Strategy: How Water Quality and Environmental Pressures Reshaped Producer Practices

Karla Hicks tells the story of their family farm, the challenges they have faced and how that has shaped water management practices at Bluestone Stock Farms.

Weather patterns vary across Canada, with conditions often particularly variable in regions such as the Palliser Triangle and Missouri Coteau. This creates challenges for Karla and her family, including navigating drought, low-quality water and forage, inconsistent weather, pests and maintaining herd health.

Through trial and error, Karla and her family have adjusted water management strategies and practices to keep their herd healthy and profitable. Here are a few practices that maintain high-quality water at Bluestone Stock Farms:

• Grazing plans built around water management plans
• Strategic dugouts in every corner of the grazing system ensures cattle always have access to fresh water
• Continuously considering possible future risks and mitigation strategies
• Improving above ground water systems where underground water is limited or not available

Stock Water Quality Matters

The quality of water cattle consume directly impacts their health and well-being, which can play a critical role in a beef producer’s bottom line. Testing water quality, keeping watering systems clean, monitoring cattle health and having a strategic plan in place are simple steps that can help keep cattle healthy, productive and profitable.

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The BCRC is funded by a portion of the Canadian Beef Cattle Check-Off.

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