Water the essential nutrient ...

cow drinking from spi livestock watererMany of us may not think of water as being a nutrient, however, its vital importance will create life threatening health conditions more quickly than any other component of a diet if not available.  Water is essential for almost all bodily functions.  So, we at SPI, definitely term water a "nutrient".

A constant supply of clean fresh water is one of the most essential components in a livestock feeding program. Water accounts for 50-80% of an animals weight (depending on the species).

Livestock demand for water will vary depending on many factors, some of these being:

Articles

The Water Imperative by Mark Bowman

Water Effects on Livestock Performance (PDF File format) by Mark Landefeld and Jeff Bettinger

Water Quality at Crossroads Katie Savage, writer. Katie Savage is a student writer with the Students Promoting Awareness of Research Knowledge (SPARK) program at the University of Guelph.

Winter Water by Marj Piazza