Guidelines for Livestock Drinking Water Quality

ParametersMaximum acceptable milligrams per litre (ppm)
Major Ions & NutrientsLivestockHumans
Calcium
Nitrate plus nitrate1000---
Nitrate alone10011
Sulphate101
Total dissolved solids1000500
3000500
Heavy Metals and Trace Ions
Aluminum5---
Arsenic0.0250.025
Beryllium0.1---
Boron55
Cadmium0.080.005
Chromium0.050.05
Cobalt1---
Copper1cattle
5swine/poultry
0.5sheep
Fluoride21.5
Iron---0.3
Lead0.10.01
Manganese---0.05
Mercury0.0030.001
Molybdenum0.5---
Nickel1---
Selenium0.050.01
Uranium0.20.02
Vanadium0.1---
Zinc505

Note --- indicates no guideline

Typical Livestock Water Consumption Levels   
Dairy (litres/day)Beef (litres/day)
Dry cows40Dry cows35
Lactating100Lactating55
Yearling Heifers30Yearling Heifers30
Feedlot animals50
Swine (litres/day)
Sows25Poultry (litres/day)
Weaners2.5Broilers140
Growing-finishing7Layers190
Turkeys700

Notes

(1) All intake levels are subject to large variation related to environmental temperature, humidity, water quality and availability, diet composition and animal performance level.
(2) Animals consuming wet feeds such as by-products, pasture or silages will drink considerably less water than indicated above.
Compiled by Murray Snowdon, NBAFA, 2000. Updated in 2008.

Contact:
George Hogg
WTC

Email:
info@waterbygeorge.ca

Cell:
780 871 9283

Postal Address:
PO Box 12699
Lloydminster, AB T9V 0Y4

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