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The performance of dairy cows offered drinking water of low or high salinity in a hot arid climate

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 September 2010

A. M. Bahman ,
J. A. Rooket  and
J. H. Topps
A. M. Bahman
Affiliation:
Public Authority for Agriculture and Fisheries, PO Box 21422, Safat, Kuwait
J. A. Rooket
Affiliation:
Public Authority for Agriculture and Fisheries, PO Box 21422, Safat, Kuwait
J. H. Topps*
Affiliation:
Public Authority for Agriculture and Fisheries, PO Box 21422, Safat, Kuwait
*
‡Department of Animal Science, University of Zimbabwe, PO Box MP167, Harare, Zimbabwe.
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Abstract

Brackish well water (BW) containing 3574 mg total dissolved solids (TDS) per I was compared with desalinated water (FW, 449 mg TDS per I) as a source of drinking water for dairy cows in the hot arid conditions of Kuwait. Friesian-Holstein cows in early lactation were given daily, 12 kg cereal-based concentrate, 12 kg fresh lucerne and 4 kg senescent date palm leaves for 196 days with the experimental treatments being either BW or FW (four cows per water type). Dry matter and water intakes were not affected by water type (P > 0·05). Cows offered BW gained slightly more weight (P > 0·05) than cows consuming FW. Although overall milk yield and composition was unaffected by water type, the decline in milk yield as the experiment progressed was significantly (P < 0·05) less for cows offered BW. Cows offered BW tended to have higher concentrations of minerals and thyroid hormones in plasma than cows offered FW. It can be concluded that water containing 3574 mg TDS per I was an acceptable source of water for dairy cows.

Keywords

dairy cowsKuwaitsalinitywater intake
Type
Research Article
Information
Animal Production , Volume 57 , Issue 1 , August 1993 , pp. 23 - 28
Copyright
Copyright © British Society of Animal Science 1993

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