How do livestock and poultry farmers provide drinking water?
In rural areas of our country, many farmers in the process of farming always think that, to raise livestock and poultry well, they only need to feed more and feed well, and often neglect the issue of drinking water. It is very cheap, so it is easily overlooked, and water sources are one of the main routes of disease transmission; parasites, bacteria and other pathogenic factors can be spread through water sources. Once the drinking water is poor, it will bring great harm.
1. Provide sufficient drinking water
Farms must ensure that livestock and poultry can drink water whenever they are thirsty, that is, free access to drinking water. Water is the source of life, and animals' need for water is more important than their need for other nutrients. Under normal circumstances, the amount of water animals drink is 2-3 times the amount of feed they eat. It is relatively common for farmers to give livestock and poultry drinking water only when feeding, and this is not enough. When drinking water is insufficient, the animals' feed intake decreases, feed digestion and absorption are poor, the blood becomes viscous, body temperature rises, and growth and development are both affected. Animals lacking drinking water will feel thirsty and have reduced appetite; continued water loss reaching 8-10% of body weight will cause metabolic disorders.
2. Keep water utensils clean
On the premise of a clean and safe water source, it is necessary to ensure that drinking water utensils are cleaned, regularly flush water tanks, water lines and other drinking water systems, and regularly do a good job of drinking water disinfection. Many farms use water tanks to store water, and they must also pay attention to regularly cleaning the dirt in the water tanks so as not to affect water quality. For cleaning water troughs and water tanks, it is recommended to regularly use 0.1% potassium permanganate for cleaning and disinfection.
3. Provide clean and safe drinking water
Use groundwater, that is, well water, as much as possible. Well water is both practical and economical, and the water temperature in winter will not be too low. When farms (households) dig their own wells to obtain water, it is best to have it tested by an inspection department and use it only after it meets drinking water standards. Although tap water is drinking water for people, the bleaching powder added to sterilize it is harmful to animal health and growth and development after drinking. If tap water is to be used, put the tap water into a bucket, store it for half an hour, and then give it to the animals to drink, so that the bleaching powder has a process of releasing chlorine atoms. It is even more unsuitable to give livestock and poultry pond water, ditch water, stagnant water, industrial water or reclaimed water, snow and ice water, river water, swill, wastewater, etc.
Note: Drinking water refers to water that can be supplied directly to the human body for drinking without treatment. Water is the main component of body fluids and an important substance constituting cells, tissue fluid, blood plasma, etc. As the medium for all chemical reactions in the body, water is the platform for the transport of various nutrients and substances.