Water is the most important essential nutrient for beef cattle.

A cow needs 9 to 21 gallons of water per day, water intake and quality affects feed intake, the absorption of other nutrients and overall productivity.

The continuing hot, dry conditions means producers are seeing changes in their surface water sources.

Regional Livestock Specialist Colby Elford says they have been encouraging producers to test water samples.

"A water body that's really good quality water, it may not be much of a concern," Elford said. "If it's borderline, then you should be looking at it more regularly around every week to ten days."   

He notes the safe level for TDS, total dissolved solids or salinity, is below 3000 milligrams per litre in cattle, anything over that they should consult with their veterinarian or livestock.

Dr Glen Griffin is a Veterinarian with the South West Animal Health Centre.

He says right now producers should get their water tested, but be checking cattle more frequently and also monitor dugouts for any signs of blue green algae.

He notes blue green algae can also lead to livestock death.

"There are two types of toxins," Griffen explained. "There are neurotoxins, which all you are going to do is find dead animals. From exposes to the toxin to dead is from anywhere from 20 minutes to a few hours, so there is no time to notice anything in between. There is another type which in my experience isn't as common and it's a hepatotoxin, which is a liver toxin." 

He says the liver toxin if detected will cause the animals to lose weight, be jaundous and will sunburn, unfortunately, there’s no treatment for this and will also result in the animals death over a period of time.

While we’ve been talking about cattle – TDS levels and blue green algae are also an issue for all livestock whether it’s horses, sheep, goats, llama’s etc.