Water Consumption by Livestock

Water consumption increases with size, lactation, increasing dry matter intake and increasing temperature. Some general guides to water intake are as follows:

Water Consumption

(gallons per day)

Beef cattle 7-12 per head

Dairy cattle 10-16 per head

Horses 8-12 per head

Swine 3-5 per head

Sheep & Goats 1-4 per head

Chickens 8-10 per 100 birds

Turkeys 10-15 per 100 birds

Extremely hot heat-stress weather could increase the high values another 20 to 30 percent.