Water in livestock farming.

Water filtration in livestock improves the appearance and turbidity of water, as it removes suspended solids that modify its appearance. In addition, filtration ensures that suspended solids do not end up affecting the water supply system such as pipes and water troughs for livestock. Ultimately, by carrying out a filtration process, particles that harbor certain microorganisms and parasites can be retained, thus reducing the bacterial load.

To carry out water filtration in livestock farming, deep bed filters can be chosen, which are tanks that have a filtration system composed of granular media inside. These media filter the water by being a physical barrier that only allows water to pass through, retaining particles and sediments in their pores.

Disc filters can also be used, which operate by means of stacked discs and have the advantage of requiring less water and time for backwashing compared to deep bed filters.

Water disinfection in livestock farming is necessary to maintain the health of livestock, since it prevents microorganisms present in the water, such as viruses, bacteria or parasites, from being ingested, causing diseases that affect growth, production and quality of by-products and, in the worst case, increasing animal mortality.

In livestock production, the quality of derived products, such as meat and milk, depends to a large extent on the health of the animals. The consumption of contaminated water can lead to the presence of pathogens in these products, which represents a risk to human health.

In order to effectively eliminate microorganisms, there are several methods such as the controlled addition of chlorine or the use of ultraviolet light lamps that emit germicidal radiation. Both methods have the purpose of affecting the microorganisms by destroying their cellular structures and genetic material.

Cattle may be reluctant to drink hard water because of its unpleasant taste. This can lead to insufficient water intake, resulting in dehydration, especially in hot climates. Dehydration can affect animal health and reduce milk or meat production.

An excess of calcium in the diet can lead to imbalances in other minerals, such as phosphorus, which can negatively affect the absorption and utilization of other nutrients. While an excess of magnesium can lead to interference with calcium absorption, which can contribute to hypocalcemia.

Depending on the region and the quality of the water source, water softening equipment will be needed to reduce the presence of these minerals. In addition, the use of a water softener prevents the formation of scale in pipes.

Heavy metals in livestock water such as lead, cadmium and mercury can accumulate in the tissues of animals as they consume contaminated feed and water. This can lead to the presence of heavy metals in meat and dairy products, which can pose a risk to human health if consumed.

Chronic exposure to heavy metals can cause a number of health problems in cattle, including kidney, liver and neurological damage. Symptoms can include weakness, loss of appetite, reproductive disorders and decreased milk and meat production.

If you need to remove this type of contaminants from the water, reverse osmosis allows only water free of a large amount of contaminants to pass through, which are trapped in the osmosis membrane, thanks to the pressure exerted, resulting in water treatment at the molecular level.

The source water for livestock use may have inadequate pH values. Inadequate water pH can also affect the ability of livestock to absorb nutrients from feed. An extremely acidic or alkaline pH can interfere with digestion and absorption of essential nutrients, which can lead to lower weight gain and poor performance.

Incorrect pH values can promote the growth of bacteria and algae in the water, which can worsen water quality and increase the risk of waterborne diseases.

Granular media such as calcite can be used to regulate pH values. Calcite is a form of calcium carbonate that can act as a pH neutralizing agent in water. When water has an acidic pH, calcite can raise the pH by releasing calcium and carbonate ions, which react with hydrogen ions in the water. This helps adjust the pH of the water toward a more neutral or alkaline level, which can be beneficial to livestock.