- Dairy cows need 3 to 5 litres of water per kilo of dry matter intake and for each litre of milk produced, they drink 2 to 3 litres of water (this rule is not cumulative).
- A dairy cow can drink up to 135 litres of water per day in 6 or 7 visits to the drinker, very often after the distribution of the feed ration or after milking (which explains the importance of locating the drinking points near the feeding table and the exit of the milking parlour.
- Every day, 10 to 12 minutes are spent drinking. One bovine cattle can absorb up to 18 litres per minute, which is why it is so important to choose a drinker supplying the right flow rate.
- A drinker with constant water level allows faster ingestion than a tube or paddle drinker and is preferable for dairy cows with a high need for water. If the flow rate is insufficient, the bovine animal will drink more often (up to 15 times a day).
The best location for indoor drinkers for dairy cows
Your cows need the best possible access to water when they are kept indoor. An unsuitable location of the drinking points can have a negative impact on the milk production or the growth of the animals. Therefore, it is important to consider the drinking behaviour within the layout of the buildings, starting in the earliest phase of the construction project of the building.
Habits of cattle in stable
Number of drinkers
and installation heights
NUMBER OF DRINKERS
- 1 water access point for 10 lactating cows.
- Large troughs: 1 water access point = 50 to 60 cm
HEIGHT OF DRINKERS
- Height to the edge of the drinker : 70 to 85 cm.
WATER REQUIREMENT FROM DAIRY COWS
BREAKDOWN OF WATER CONSUMPTION
Study involving 82 lactating Prim’Holstein cows, fed a complete ration and kept in loose housing.
Source: “The factors responsible for variation in drinking behaviour of dairy cows», Cardot V., Le Roux Y., Jurjanz S. Journées 3R, 2007, 14.
INDOOR LOCATION OF THE DRINKERS FOR DAIRY COWS
The diagrams on this page show the ideal locations of the drinking points depending on the building layout.
1 The access above the drinking point must be at least 60 cm wide, otherwise the animals can drink less easily and less quickly, and they are prone to lapping.
2 For calves, we recommend the use of drinkers with constant water level or types that are specially adapted to their morphology (e.g. BABYLAB).
3 Location of the drinkers near the service aisle makes maintenance and inspection of their good working order easier.