Monitoring water quality safeguards grazing success

By: Brooke Higgins,

Outreach and Resource Development Coordinator

McPherson and Edmunds County Conservation Districts

Water serves as a crucial nutrient for livestock. Animal size, diet, productivity, and air temperature determine the quantity of water each animal will need on a regular basis. Low quality water sources can be the difference in extra pounds of gain on calves you intend to sell in the fall, ultimately affecting your operation’s bottom line.

Dissolved minerals or solids (commonly called salts) are present in many livestock water sources. Solids can include carbonates and bicarbon...