ANN 111: Principles of Animal Nutrition and Feed Technology (2+1)

FACTORS MODIFYING WATER REQUIREMENT

• Physiological status of animal
  • Young calves consume more water
  • Pregnant and lactating animals consume more water.
• Ambient temperature, Relative humidity, Wind velocity, Rain fall
• Dry matter intake
• Composition of feed:
  • Feed with high level of salt increases the water intake.
  • Feed with high protein leads to higher production of uric acid / urea which in turn increasses water requirement
  • High fibrous feed also leads to increase in water requirement.
• Variation of species
• Frequency of watering the animal
• Diurnal and seasonal variation
• Animals can tolerate higher salinity than humans. Low quality water leads to reduction in water intake and feed consumption and decreased production.