D4-Uncaster Farming Saturday, February 1,1986
■ Chester D, Hughes
* Extension Livestock Specialist
Water and Cattle
Water intake in feeds plus that
consumed free choice is ap
proximately equivalent to the
water requirements of cattle. The
water requirement is influenced by
several factors, including rate and
composition of grain, pregnancy,
lactation, activity, type of diet,
feed intake, and environmental
temperature.
Restriction of water intake
reduces feed intake, which results
in lower production. However,
water restriction tends to increase
apparent digestibility and nitrogen
retention.
The minimum requirement of
cattle for water is a reflection of
that needed for body growth; for
fetal growth or lactation; and of
that lost by excretion in the urine,
feces, or sweat or by evaporation
from the lungs or skin. Anything
influencing these needs or losses
will influence the minimum
requirement.
The amount of urine produced
daily varies with the activity of the
animal, air temperature, and
water consumption as well as with
certain other factors. Under
conditions of restricted water
intake, an animal may concentrate
its urine to some extent by
resorbing a greater amount of
water than usual. When an animal
consumes a diet high in protein or
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salt or one that contains sub
stances having a diuretic effect,
the excretion of urine is increased
and so is the water requirement.
Since feeds themselves contain
some water and the oxidation of
certain nutrients in feeds produces
water, not all must be provided by
drinking. Feeds such as silages,
green chop, or growing pasture
forage are usually very high in
moisture content, while grains,
hays, and dormant pasture forage
are low. High-energy feeds
produce much metabolic water,
while low energy feeds produce
very little. These are obvious
complications in the matter of
assessing water requirements.
The results of water requirement
studies conducted under varied
conditions imply that thirst is a
result of need and that animals
drink to fill this need. The need
results from an increase in the
electrolyte concentration in the
body fluids, which activates the
thirst mechanism.
Water requirements are affected
by many factors, and it is im
possible to list specific
requirements with accuracy.
However, the major influences on
water intake in cattle on typical
rations are dry matter intake,
environmental temperature, and
stage and type of production.
Father-ion team consistent winners
in National Western carcass contest
BOZEMAN, Mont - The man
who bred and fed this year’s grand
champion pen of carcass steers at
the National Western says only the
tail end of his 1984 crop of Sim
mentals were left when it was time
to go to Denver.
“Our cattle were ready in
November, prices were strong, so
we sold”, Eon Gramm said.
“Eighty percent of them graded
Choice, yielding 1.5 to 2.0. So when
Diane, my wife, and I had to pick
six head for Denver, we had only
seven left”.
Hanging on the rail at Monfort
Pack’s Greeley, Colorado plant,
Gramm’s top five won the
prestigious show’s steer division
with these averages: back fat -
.27-inch; rib eye - 15.06 square
inches; yield grade -1.81; kidney
fat - 2.10%; cutability - 52.52%;
index - 52.94. All graded Choice
and met carcass weight
specifications.
Placing third was a pen of %
Simmental steers owned by Loyd
Gramm, Ron’s semi-retired
father. Just two years ago, the
placings were reversed as the
elder Gramm won grand champion
pen overall and son placed third in
the steer division. In 1985, the
Gramms won reserve champion in
the heavy steer division and
champion in the lightweight heifer
section.
Dams of this years’ steers were
sisters of the cows that produced
the grand champion pen in 1984,
but different sires were used.
“People don’t give enough
emphasis to the cow side,” said
Ron. “They forget that the cow is
WATER-REEL® Traveling Irrigators
When Your Bottom Line
rTop
Ron Gramm (left) took top honors in National Western
carcass contest. His father Loyd (right) placed third.
responsible for 50% of the steer. 80 registered Simmental cows.
We produce our own replacements Mostly a dryland operation, they
and we select medium-frame also produce 60 acres of irrigated
heifers. corn silage.
Located just 30 miles west of the “We feed our own cattle with our
Kansas-Colorado border, the own feed. Dad’s been doing that all
Gramms have 80 commercial and his life”, Ron summarizes.
Seedling sale
YORK The York County in packets ot ten evergreens and
Conservation District has begun packets of five hardwoods,
planning for next spring’s tree Orders for the seedlings are
seedling sale. Every year the taken beginning in February and
conservation district holds a run until the end of March. Watch
seedling sale to promote the the papers for order blanks
planting of seedlings throughout beginning in February or call the
the county. This year’s sale is district office and have your name
special because 1986 is the year of placed on our mailing list. The
the tree. seedlings are then distributed the
The seedlings consist of several third Saturday in April
species of evergreens including
white pine, Norway spruce, blue
spruce, and Douglas fir, and
hardwood varieties include white
birch, white flowering dogwood
and pin oak. The seedlings are sold
igineenng.
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