Overview of farm water planning
Water is an essential requirement for running a livestock business and has a significant impact upon stock welfare, farm productivity and business profitability. Knowledge of stock drinking water requirements and potential sources of water are important for planning on both an annual and daily basis. The goal of farm water planning is to have the water you need, where you need it, when you need it. Farm water planning also takes into account the levels of risk associated with water supply reliability.
Essential elements of farm water planning include:
- Understanding total farm water requirements,
- Evaluating the reliability of water sources,
- Determining the sizes of storages (dams or tanks) needed,
- Matching stocking rates to water availability,
- Designing farm water supply and reticulation systems,
- Determining how long water supplies will last during times of prolonged below average rainfall years or droughts.
In periods of low rainfall or in low rainfall areas, water shortages can be a significant limitation to productivity. A lack of water can mean destocking the property or carting water in, while poor water quality can restrict the type of stock run or inhibit their productivity.
This booklet is designed to be a helpful tool in providing information covering a range of water requirement and quality issues along with a series of tips on water management.
Farm water balance
A key component of farm water planning is undertaking an annual farm water balance. A water balance considers:
- Water requirements (uses of water) on-farm
- Water supplies on-farm (water available)
- The balance between water supply and use
- Storages
Using the information provided by the water budget along with an understanding of water distribution, quality and seasonal weather patterns can help guide decision making on-farm.
For information on how to carry out a water budget, please refer to Farm Water Solutions farm water calculator and click on the Online Farm Water Calculator button.
Stock water requirements
Daily intake
Daily water intake varies widely among different types of livestock and according to the activity level of the animal. It is also influenced by factors such as climate, environmental conditions and the type of feed and water being consumed. It is important to remember that the peak consumption for your local area could be significantly higher than the figures given.
