A2B-Lancaster Farming, Saturday, June 15, 2002
Penn State Cooperative Extension
Capitol Region Dairy Team
WATER AN IMPORTANT
NUTRIENT IN
DAIRY RATIONS
Glenn A. Shirk
Extension Dairy Agent
Lancaster
If I asked you to name impor
tant nutrients in a cow’s ration,
chances are you would list pro
tein, energy, vitamins, and min
erals. But would you include
water?
When balancing rations and
feeding cows, do you focus on
water quality and water intake as
much as you focus on forage
quality, energy and carbohydrate
fractions, proteins, amino acids,
vitamins, minerals, various feed
additives, dry matter intakes,
etc.?
Water is a key nutrient that
performs a variety of important
functions. Cow need plenty of
good, quality water for normal
rumen function and metabolism,
proper flow of feeds through the
digestive tract, good digestion
and absorption of nutrients,
maintaining normal blood vol
ume, and to satisfy a variety of
tissue needs.
We think nothing of weighing
and testing feeds, but do we test
water and monitor intakes? We
should, because water intake
problems can affect dry matter
intake and milk production as
well as the health and growth of
cattle.
Consider using water meters to
help you monitor intake.
What can you do to help en
courage cows to consume ade
quate intakes of water?
• Provide good, quality water.
Clean waterers frequently. Install
easy-to-clean systems to help
make this job easier to perform.
• Provide convenient and easy
First John Schwartz Golf Outing A Success
STEVENS (Lancaster Co.)
“The inaugural John Schwartz
Memorial Golf Outing was a
great success, raising more than
$2,000 to benefit the John
Schwartz Foundation,” accord
ing to Lancaster County Poultry
Association President Andy
Bradford.
According to Bradford, the
Lancaster County Poultry Asso
ciation would like to thank all of
the participants, sponsors, and
especially the weatherman for
another successful golf outing at
Fox Chase Golf Course. The
fierce thunderstorms predicted
tor the day did not materialize
until well after play ended. More
than 80 golfers participated.
“The support for this year’s
event was a standing tribute to
John's contributions to the indus
try he so dearly loved,” said
Bi adford.
Hole sponsorships more than sponsored by York Ag Products
doubled and participant numbers and also greeted participants at
grew by double digits as com- the registration table by handing
pared to previous years. The win- out the gift pack of balls and tees
ning foursome fired a 23 under by the same sponsor,
par 60 to capture the top prize, Bradford noted that several
. bile two other groups were nip- players were overheard saying,
ping at their heels with 61s. “Having John Jr. here really
The day was capped off by the brings the message home as to
participation rf John Sdwrarty why wt tux here today.”
access to water. Place waterers at
the end of frees tall rows and in
crossover alleys to shorten walk
ing distances. Position waterers
close to feeding and shade areas.
Place large water tanks near par
lor exits. Place waterers in well-lit
areas avoid dead-end alleys,
stray voltage problems, and other
situations that threaten cows and
discourage usage. Position water
bowls so cows have sufficient
head and throat clearance and
sufficient chain length, enabling
them to position their heads in a
manner that allows them to oper
ate water bowl valves easily and
to drink comfortably. Cows
shouldn’t have to work to get
their water.
• Prevent boss cows from rul
ing the drinking area. Provide
more than one waterer per group.
Large-volume watering devices
with ample walking distance
around them can be helpful.
• Provide an adequate supply
of water to water bowls and
tanks. Have adequate wells and/
or reserve tank capacities, ade
quate pump capacity and pres
sure, adequate pipe size (and un
clogged pipes), good water flow
to critical distribution points in
the water delivery system, and
nonclogging water valves that
have good flow rates.
How much water should cows
consume? It depends on such
things as size of animal, milk
production, stage of pregnancy,
moisture content of the ration,
and temperature the higher the
temperature, the greater the in
take. Some of a cow’s water in
take comes from the feed she
consumes. If a cow is consuming
100 pounds of feed per day, and
the moisture content of her ration
is 50 percent, she is consuming 50
The first annual John Schwartz Memorial Golf Outing,
sponsored by the Lancaster County Poultry Association
here at Fox Chase Golf Course recently, was a resounding
success. Winning foursome, from left, Ron Kreider; John
Schwartz Jr., presenter of awards; Bob Randall; and Barry
Shaw. Not pictured: Jeff Musser.
Jr. John played in a foursome
Lancaster Conducts 4-H
Presentation Night
Blue ribbon winners from the presentation contest at the Lancaster County 4-H Pre
sentation Night Tuesday at the Farm and Home Center.
pounds of water per day from her
ration. At 8.34 pounds per gallon
of water, that amounts to 6 gal
lons of water (50 divided by 8.34).
Holstein calves consume about
1.3 to 2 gallons of water per day
at 1 month of age. At 5 months,
they may consume 3.8 to 4.6 gal
lons. The intake increases from
5.9 to 7.1 gallons at 15-18 months
of age. Prior to calving, expect
them to consume 7.3 to 9.6 gal
lons.
In their last trimester of preg
nancy, Holstein cows will con
sume 9 to 13 gallons. Lactating
cows may consume 4 to 4.5
pounds of water per pound of 4
percent fat corrected milk. The
higher range of these intakes per
tain to cattle fed rations consis
ting of dry forges and grains.
Additional information on
water intake, water quality, and
water testing is available at
http://www.das.psu.edu/dcn.
To learn more about the John
Schwartz Foundation, contact
Jim Shirk at PennAg Industries,
(717)651-5920.
The poultry association, Brad
ford noted, “would also like to
thank Chip Kappesser, head prr
fessional and ail of his staff
Foxchase Golf Club for havini
the course in perfect conditio)
for ■uMJtjoyable ettUt”
T i - ■ i* r -
- - .a: a.-..
LANCASTER (Lancaster Co.) Thirty-two 4-H mem
bers from various Lancaster County 4-H community clubs
participated in Presentation Night Tuesday evening here
at the Farm and Home Center.
The event is a prelude to State 4-H Achievement Days
July 30-Aug. 1 at Penn State, University Park.
Speech and presentation winners can advance to com
petition. The Presentation Night also included visual
award winners. Winning blue ribbon awards at the night
were, from left, Reid Fellenbaum, photo contest winner;
Bonnie Johnson, essay contest winner; and Katrina
Smith, poster contest winner.
Photo by Andy Andrews, editor
Office Closed July 4
On Thursday, July 4, Lan- Classified, Section D ads
caster Farming office is _ 5 p . m ., Tuesday, July 2.
closed. The office will reopen classified, Section C,
" For the July 6 issue, there f“ r “ Equipment ads, 9 a.m.,
are some deadline changes: Wednesday, July 3.
Public Sale and Mailbox General News noon,
ads, 5 p.m., Monday, July 1. Wednesday, July 3.
DaOiy ‘pan,
IE ’
We Love Oar
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