By Mike Surbrugg

msurbrugg@joplinglobe.com

COLUMBIA, Mo. — Regardless of feed prices and forage quality, water is the most important nutrient for cattle.

Dry beef cows need eight to 12 gallons of water on a day when it is 50 degrees and 20 to 30 gallons at 90 degrees. Lactating beef cows need 12 to 20 gallons at 50 degrees and 25 to 30 gallons at 90 degrees. A lactating dairy cow should drink 20 to 30 gallons a day at 50 degrees and 30 to 40 gallons at 90 degrees.

Lush forage or feed can reduce daily water needs.

The Missouri office of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service provides information on the water needed by grazing cattle.

With unlimited access to streams or ponds, cattle can turn drinking into a social event, including standing in water to keep cool.

NRCS encourages cattle owners to have cattle drink from water tanks in fields or to use fences to control access to streams or ponds.

There are an assortment of different kinds and types of water tanks that can be portable or permanent fixtures.

The goal is get water to within 800 feet of where cattle graze. Longer walks cause all the herd (thirsty or not) to follow one another across fields or through open gates and down a lane to get to the water tank. This means a lot of fields are not grazed and manure is unevenly dropped over the field.

Water systems also play a major role in designing managed grazing systems. Such systems should be designed to control costs to get water to each grazing paddock.

NRCS conservationists and technicians in each county can help farmers plan and seek grants to install water management and grazing systems.

Mike Surbrugg is The Joplin Globe’s farm editor.