Do Calves Drink Water?

Overview & Synopsis

Water consumption was determined in calves raised in a modern nursery equipped with connected drinking troughs that allow individual measurements. The calves were fed two diets consisting of milk-based feed until 9 weeks of age, followed by cereal-based feed after weaning, and unlimited straw. Water consumption differed between the two groups. Animals on the most generous feeding diet were also those that drank the most water spontaneously, despite having access to larger volumes of milk feed. However, water consumption varied between individuals, with some drinking virtually no water until weaning. The amount of water varied based on diet as well as environmental conditions, although there were no seasonal effects before weaning. Water consumption increased after weaning and during hot periods, but environmental parameters seemed to have a lesser impact on water consumption than feeding diet, even during the hot weeks at the end of spring and beginning of autumn. As the nursery was not equipped with active ventilation, no animals were in the building from mid-May to mid-September.