Reasons water quality matters for dairy cows:

9. Calves need good water to thrive. Depriving calves of fresh water decreases starter intake by 31% and weight gain by as much as 38% when compared to calves provided free-choice water.

8. The impact of water issues is diverse and far-reaching. Common symptoms that could signal dairy water quality issues include:

• Health or performance concerns in cows
• Digestive upsets or scours in replacement animals 
• Deteriorating health status of newly arrived heifers or dry cows
• Off-flavor, smell or color of drinking water
• Digestive upsets in humans drinking from the same water source

7. Dissolved solids impact dairy cow performance. It is important to test water quality, and total dissolved solids should be one of the first things to evaluate. 

6. Drinking water provides 60%-80% of dry and lactating cows’ water needs,while feed provides most of the remaining necessary water. 

5. Poor water intake and quality in lactating dairy cows can impact health.The results range from depressed immune function to decreased fertility and from increased off-feed events to erratic eating patterns.

4. Dairy cows require adequate amounts of water to maintain blood volume,tissue function, rumen activity and proper flow of feed through the digestive tract.

3. Dairy cows spend 4 to 5 hours per day eating and only 20 to 30 minutes per day drinking water. 

2. Water accounts for 87% of the milk a cow produces. Therefore, providing clean, safe water is critical to maximizing production. 

1. Following air, water is the nutrient required in the largest quantity by dairy cattle. A cow consumes 30 to 50 gallons of water per day.