WQ-99/90
Water quality issues related to animal health have been discussed and debated since the early 70's with very little resolution. Demands for improvement in water quality used for animals are increasing. However, very little evidence of major problems exists to support these concerns.
Dr. Thomas L. Carson, a toxicologist, in 1976 said, "it is sometimes easy to incriminate the water as a cause of poor performance and non-specific disease conditions in livestock...but a survey of diagnostic laboratory personnel in Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin, Missouri, Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska and South Dakota failed to reveal any major health problems associated with water quality...This indicates that a large number and varied species of livestock and poultry are consuming many different qualities of water with few adverse effects."1
His statement could infer water quality does not play a role in animal health - it does. Water is essential for health and life. However, very little research done under farm conditions is available to determine whether or not water is involved in animal health problems.
Recent research revealed no relationship between losses on randomly selected swine farms and water quality. The study was conducted over a two year period on farms in Iowa as part of the National Animal Health Monitoring Sys- tem (NAHMS). About 10 percent of the farms had coliform bacteria counts above acceptable levels and total dissolved solids on most farms were well below risk levels.2
Concerns about water quality for livestock include the effect on animal per- formance, the spread of disease and the safety of animal products for human consumption. In nearly all instances where animals ingest higher than recom- mended levels of normal constituents in water, there is no residue problem in the meat or milk. Animals adapt to these conditions by reducing water intake, metabolizing the excess dissolved solids, increasing the excretion of the dissolved solids or by storing the excess in tissue like bones, which are not consumed by humans.1
Water is an essential ingredient in the animal body. A long period of water deprivation can result in death. Even short periods of water deprivation can lead to problems in some species. For example, without water, for even a short period of time, swine suffer sodium ion intoxication (salt poisoning).
The amount of dissolved minerals in a water sample is measured as total dis- solved solids (TDS). Dissolved solids consist of a variety of salts such as chlorides, sulfates and bicarbonates of calcium, magnesium and sodium. Water with high levels of dissolved solids is often called saline.
Problems with dissolved solids in water can occur any time in some locations. However, periods of drought can cause problems in areas ordinarily without any problem. The level of dissolved solids can rise due to evaporation or lowering of the water table.
Total dissolved solids is used as a gross indicator of water quality. Water containing up to 3,000 mg of soluble salts/liter usually does not cause prob- lems. Levels above 10,000 mg/liter are unfit for poultry and probably swine. Some risk may exist in using this water in pregnant animals of other species. Table 1 contains a list of possible signs at various levels of total soluble salts.
_________________________________________________________________________________ |Table 1. A Guide For The Use Of Saline Waters For Livestock And Poultry | |_______________________________________________________________________________| |Total Soluble Salts Con- Comments | |tent of Waters (mg/liter) | |_______________________________________________________________________________| |Less than 1,000 Does not present a problem to livestock or poultry.| | | |1,000-2,999 Satisfactory for all livestock and poultry. May | | cause temporary and mild diarrhea in livestock or | | watery droppings in poultry not accustomed to it | | (especially at the higher levels). Should not | | affect health or performance. | | | |3,000-4,999 Water satisfactory for livestock. Might possibly | | cause temporary diarrhea or be refused at first by | | animals not accustomed to it. Not recommended for | | poultry. Often causes watery feces (at the higher | | levels of salinity), increased mortality and | | reduced growth, especially in turkeys. | | | |5,000-6,999 Water reasonably safe for dairy and beef cattle, | | sheep, swine and horses. Avoid using for animals in| | late gestation or lactating. Not acceptable for | | poultry. Almost always causes some problem. Near | | the upper limit reduced growth and production or | | increased mortality will probably occur. | |7,000-10,000 Water unfit for poultry and probably for swine. | | Considerable risk for pregnant or lactating cows, | | horses, sheep and the young of these species, or | | for any animals subjected to heavy heat stress or | | water loss. | | In general, avoid the water supply. Although, | | older ruminants, horses and even poultry and swine | | can subsist on it for long periods of time under | | low stress conditions. | |More than 10,000 Not recommended for use under any condition. | |_______________________________________________________________________________| |From: NAS, Nutrients and Toxic Substances in Water for Livestock | |_______________________________________________________________________________|
Magnesium salts, particularly magnesium sulfate, have a laxative effect and may cause baby pig diarrhea. Research has shown sulfates do not cause noticeable signs of harm to reproductive efficiency in mice even with levels as high as 5,000 parts per million (ppm). Mice were used as a model for swine in this study.4
In human water supplies the presence of coliform bacteria has long been used as an indicator for the possible presence of disease-causing organisms. Animals however, often consume water containing coliforms over a long period of time with no apparent ill effects. Swine, for example, often choose to drink from flush gutters rather than the clean water source.
Problems with coliform contamination of an animal water supply usually involve very young animals (calves, piglets, lambs). Very young animals are more susceptible to coliform infections.
The presence of other bacteria such as leptospira or salmonella does indicate a need for a new water source or treatment of the present source. Ponds and streams are often implicated as sources of some bacterial disease outbreaks.
Blue-green algae blooms in ponds during hot dry weather of late summer can poison animals. Common to grazing livestock, blue-green algae poisoning causes muscle tremors, diarrhea, lack of coordination, collapse, labored breathing, liver damage and death. Blue-green algae poisoning can affect all species.
Usually poisoning results from concentrated bloom material blown along the shoreline by the wind. Water tanks can also be affected. Remove animals immediately if water supplies contain large quantities of blue-green algae blooms.
Occasionally animals can be poisoned by their water source. This is a rela- tively rare occurrence. Arsenic, cadmium, copper, fluoride, iron, lead, mer- cury, nitrate and selenium are examples of potentially toxic elements but are seldom found in harmful amounts in water.
Nitrates are frequently mentioned as a cause of water-related problems. Table 2 lists levels of nitrates which cause toxicity problems. Several fac- tors must also be considered along with these levels. These factors include animal specie, type of feed and amount of intake from all sources.
_________________________________________________________________________________ |Table 2. A Guide For Using Water Containing Nitrates For Livestock | |_______________________________________________________________________________| |Nitrate content* as parts Comments | |per million (ppm) of | |nitrate-nitrogen (NO3-N)** | |_______________________________________________________________________________| |Less than 100 This water should not harm livestock or poultry. | | | |100 to 300 Should not, by itself, harm livestock or poultry. | | If hays, forages or silages contain high levels of| | nitrate, this water may contribute significantly | | to a nitrate problem in cattle, sheep or horses. | | | |Over 300 Could cause typical nitrate poisoning in cattle, | | sheep or horses. Do not use the water for these | | animals. This level of nitrate significantly con-| | tributes to the salts content. Avoid the use of | | this water for swine or poultry. | |_______________________________________________________________________________| | | |* The values shown include nitrate and nitrite-nitrogen. The water should | | not contain more than 50 ppm nitrite-nitrogen (NO2N) because of the | | greater toxicity of the nitrite form. | | | | | |** 1 ppm of nitrate-nitrogen is equivalent to: | | 4.4 ppm of nitrate (NO3) | | 6.1 ppm of sodium nitrate (NaNO3) | | 7.2 ppm of potassium nitrate (KNO3) | | 1 milliequivalent (meq) per liter of nitrate-nitrogen is equivalent to 14 | | ppm. | |_______________________________________________________________________________|
In Table 3 the levels of chemicals considered to be potentially toxic for livestock and poultry by the National Academy of Science (NAS), Council of Agricultural Science and Technology (CAST) as well as the Public Health Ser- vice standards for humans are listed.
_____________________________________________________________
| Table 3. Recommended Limits of Concentration of Poten- |
| tially Toxic Substances in Drinking Water for |
| Livestock and Poultry |
|____________________________________________________________|
| Safe Upper Limit of Concentration (mg/l) |
| |
| Substance IEPAa NASb CASTc |
| (for humans) |
|____________________________________________________________|
| Arsenic 0.05 0.2 0.5 |
| Barium 1.0 Not Established |
| Boron 5.0 |
| Cadmium 0.01 0.05 0.5 |
| Chromium 0.05 1.0 5.0 |
| Cobalt 1.0 1.0 |
| Copper 5.0 2.0 0.5 |
| Fluoride 1.8 2.0 3.0 |
| Iron 1.0 Not Established No Limitd |
| Lead 0.05 0.1 0.1 |
| Manganese 0.15 Not Established No Limit |
| Mercury 0.0002 0.01 0.01 |
| Molybdenum Not Established No Limit |
| Nickel 1.0 |
| Nitrate-N 10.0 100.0 300.0 |
| Nitrite-N 10.0 10.0 |
| Vanadium 0.1 1.0 |
| Zinc 5.0 25.0 25.0 |
|____________________________________________________________|
| a - According to Ill. Environmental Protection |
| Agency, Title 35, Subtitle F: Public Water |
| Supplies, April 22, 1986. |
| b - Recommended by National Academy of Sciences |
| Publication Nutrients and Toxic Substances in |
| Water for Livestock and Poultry, 1974. |
| c - Recommended by the Council for Agricultural |
| Science and Technology, Report No. 26, Quality|
| of Water for Livestock, April 19, 1974. |
| d - No Limit: experimental data available are not |
| sufficient to make definite recommendations. |
|____________________________________________________________|
Pesticides are rarely found in livestock water supplies. Usually the amount of pesticide is small and causes no damage. If pesticides are identified in water supplies, a veterinarian/physician should be consulted to assess the potential for problems in humans.
On rare occasion, water may be the source of health problems in livestock and poultry. The more common causes of disease should be investigated before checking the water supply. An exception should be made in the case of diseases, such as leptospirosis and salmonellosis, in which water can be a common source of infection.
For further information on livestock production and water quality contact your county Cooperative Extension office or local veterinarian. The follow- ing bulletins in the WQ series may be helpful:
WQ 1 "Water Testing Laboratories"
WQ 7 "Animal Agriculture's Effect on Water Quality
Pastures and Feedlots"
WQ 8 "Animal Agriculture's Effect on Water Quality
Waste Storage"
ID-128 "Nitrate Toxicity--Problem and Prevention" PIH-79 "Environmental Sanitation and Management in Disease Prevention"
1. Carson, Thomas L., Determination of Water Quality for Animals, Proceedings of Water Quality for Animals, November, 1976, Iowa State University, Ames. 2. Owens, William J., Iowa Round Three Technical Report, 1988-89, NAHMS, Iowa State University, College of Veterinary Medicine, Ames. 3. Biehl, LeRoy G., Water Quality and Swine Health, Food Animal Professional Topics, 1989, Vol. 15, #4, University of Illinois, Urbana. 4. Andres, C. J., Cline, T. R., Influence of Sulfate in Drinking Water on Mouse Reproduction During Two Parities, Journal of Animal Science, 1989. Vol. 67, pg. 1313. 5. Olson, O.E., Emerick, R.J., Lubinus, L., Nitrates in Livestock Waters, Cooperative Extension Service, South Dakota State University, Brookings. NRC. 1974. 6. Nutrients and Toxic Substances in Water for Livestock and Poultry, National Academy Press, Washington DC.
Editor: Cheri L. Janssen, Department of Agronomy
Cooperative Extension work in Agriculture and Home Economics, state of Indiana, Purdue University, and U.S. Department of Agriculture cooperating; H. A. Wadsworth, Director, West Lafayette, IN. Issued in furtherance of the acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914. The Cooperative Extension Service of Purdue University is an affirmative action/equal opportunity institution.