Water Access and Cleanliness

Dairy Well

Water Access (Critical Criteria)

Which animals to assess:

Every group of animals, whether or not they are a focal pen scored for animal-based measures

How to assess:

All groups of animals must have access to fresh, clean, potable water in their home pen.

Ponds, creeks, and other natural water sources will be acceptable if it is clear the water source is not temporary.

Acceptable water access

Unacceptable water access

Water Cleanliness

Which animals to assess:

Waterers (trough, bucket, tank) in the pens of each group previously scored for animal-based measures will be checked

  • Focal groups of lactating cows, dry cows, heifers, calves, hospital pen
How to assess:

The ‘clean water sheet’ must be easily read while submerged 6-10 inches below the water surface in 3 separate locations in the waterer.

If you were assessing this for cleanliness, the Score Card needs to be easily read in 3 distinct locations.

Since the Score Card could only be read in 2/3 locations, this trough would not pass for cleanliness.

  • Individual waters should be free from manure or other gross contamination
    • Small amounts of feed, and algae along the bottom or sides of the bucket/troughs are acceptable
    • Algae floating on the surface, fecal contamination, or large amounts of feed obstructing the entire surface of the water need to be addressed
  • All water troughs checked for each age class must be in acceptable condition for that age class (e.g. heifers) to pass

Acceptable water cleanliness

Unacceptable water cleanliness

National Dairy FARM Program

  • All age classes of animals must have access to clean, fresh water as necessary to maintain proper hydration
  • Non-ambulatory cows must have access to water at all times
  • Best practice:
    • Water should be convenient to reach on demand
    • There should be enough waterers to accommodate the number of animals in the group
    • If continuous access is impossible for animals besides lactating and non-lactating cows, water must be available at least twice per day
    • Water is prevented from freezing in cold weather or animals are provided access to fresh water as soon as possible
 

These examples show poor access to water.

 

There is currently no repeatability test for this measure.