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With cattle housed, most farmers fixate on silage quality and concentrates to drive weight gain in store animals.
However, most farmers forget about water quality and the importance of keeping drinking troughs clean.
Providing fresh, clean water is just as important as feeding high-quality silage during winter, especially in lactating cows and animals on a high concentrate diet.
Cows and finishing cattle can drink between 40- and 60-litres per day. Water troughs that become soiled with silage, or faeces, will reduce drinking activity.
If cattle are drinking less, this will reduce feed intake and ultimately impact on animal performance.
Therefore, when pushing in silage every morning, take the time to empty drinking troughs so that water supply is fresh every day.
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