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The Rural Voice, 2000-09, Page 12Come and see us in Paisley ,4 good selection of New & Used Cars & Trucks BUD RIER CHEVROLET - OLDSMOBILE LTD. Paisley 519-353-5651 1-800-461-0505 8 THE RURAL VOICE Scrap Book What's the value of clean water? Recent events have brought the importance of pure water for humans to the forefront but what's its value for livestock? A group of federal and provincial researchers are in the second year of a three-year study at the Western Beef Development Centre's Termuende Research Farm near Lanigan. Saskatchewan to scientifically assess cattle performance and the financial implications of providing various qualities of water to cattle. Early results show a system that pumps aerated water to troughs remote from natural water holes would pay for itself in one grazing season by increasing weight gain. The jury is still out, however, on the economic benefits of treated and chlorinated water. Researchers have been working with four groups of steers and four groups of cow -calf pairs. Each group gets only one of four types of water: direct access to a dugout, unaerated dugout water pumped to a trough; aerated water in a trough, or coagulated and chlorinated water in a trough. All the water comes from the same dugout, said Larry Braul, a water quality engineer with the Prairie Farm Rehabilitation Administration. Where cattle go directly into the water source they are relieving themselves right in the water so there's going to be high bacteria counts and E. coli in the water, he said. As well, the bottom of the dugout becomes anaerobic, meaning the oxygen has been depleted. This causes nutrients in the sediment, particularly phosphorus, to leach into the water and feed the algae, helping to cause prolific blooms of green slime. "You can also get iron and manganese coming out," Braul said. Bart Lardner, a researcher with the Western Beef Development Centre says direct access is particularly bad for calves that can't wade deep enough to avoid the dirty, muddy water close to shore. In the section of the dugout where the water is pumped to the trough, the water is cleaner and has fewer bacteria (the sections are divided by plastic sheet dams). In the section where aeration is added. the quality and odour of the water is better. Water from this section is also used in the treated water experiment. Water is treated to settle out all organic matter and some minerals. Chlorine is added before it is pumped to troughs. These steps provide crystal clear water. In the first year of the study, with only steers involved, cattle given water pumped directly to troughs gained 0.14 pounds per day better than steers watering in the pond. Those on aerated water gained 0.38 pounds per day more than those watering in the pond. Those on the purest water gained only slightly better than those on aerated water. Braul feels the reason may have been because too much chlorine was used in purifying the water. This year they're reducing the amount of chlorine used. Researchers are wondering if taste and odour are the real issue they're dealing with based on year one results. "You wouldn't expect as much improved weight gain between aerated and direct (access) from these kind of results," Braul said. As for cost, researchers estimated the $1500 cost of a solar panel, intake pump and hose and trough could be recovered from 100 head of cattle in just 110 days. Aeration with a compressor, hose and air stone would add $3,800 but the added gain would recover the cost in just 100 days. Further purification would cost $6,00() for a Lined coagulation dugout and ongoing costs of $300 a year for chemicals. To be justified based on cattle production alone, weight gain would need to improve about 0.48 pounds per day. In the first year, • however, there was little additional gain. Costs could be spread to family use and improved water for mixing pesticides, researchers said. Previous studies have shown when cattle drink more, they also eat more.° — Source: Western Producer 7.--- 7. Owen Sound '" Fall Fair -'47, : September _�� 7 to 9 Victoria Park Giant Midway Helicopter Rides Quilt Show Highlights of the Fair Thursday - evening Owen Sound 4-H Calf Club Show Western Horse Show Friday Owen Sound 4-H Regional Show Limousin & Blonde d'Aquitane Shows Military Demonstration Truck & Tractor Pull . Saturday Hereford & Angus Shows Heavy Horse Pull ATV Rodeo Simmental & Charolais Shows Demolition Derby Free Entertainment Free Children's Activities Entries Wanted For Truck & Tractor Pull Demo Derby ATV Rodeo For information & entry forms, call 519-371-1720 See Sun Times for complete schedule 8 THE RURAL VOICE Scrap Book What's the value of clean water? Recent events have brought the importance of pure water for humans to the forefront but what's its value for livestock? A group of federal and provincial researchers are in the second year of a three-year study at the Western Beef Development Centre's Termuende Research Farm near Lanigan. Saskatchewan to scientifically assess cattle performance and the financial implications of providing various qualities of water to cattle. Early results show a system that pumps aerated water to troughs remote from natural water holes would pay for itself in one grazing season by increasing weight gain. The jury is still out, however, on the economic benefits of treated and chlorinated water. Researchers have been working with four groups of steers and four groups of cow -calf pairs. Each group gets only one of four types of water: direct access to a dugout, unaerated dugout water pumped to a trough; aerated water in a trough, or coagulated and chlorinated water in a trough. All the water comes from the same dugout, said Larry Braul, a water quality engineer with the Prairie Farm Rehabilitation Administration. Where cattle go directly into the water source they are relieving themselves right in the water so there's going to be high bacteria counts and E. coli in the water, he said. As well, the bottom of the dugout becomes anaerobic, meaning the oxygen has been depleted. This causes nutrients in the sediment, particularly phosphorus, to leach into the water and feed the algae, helping to cause prolific blooms of green slime. "You can also get iron and manganese coming out," Braul said. Bart Lardner, a researcher with the Western Beef Development Centre says direct access is particularly bad for calves that can't wade deep enough to avoid the dirty, muddy water close to shore. In the section of the dugout where the water is pumped to the trough, the water is cleaner and has fewer bacteria (the sections are divided by plastic sheet dams). In the section where aeration is added. the quality and odour of the water is better. Water from this section is also used in the treated water experiment. Water is treated to settle out all organic matter and some minerals. Chlorine is added before it is pumped to troughs. These steps provide crystal clear water. In the first year of the study, with only steers involved, cattle given water pumped directly to troughs gained 0.14 pounds per day better than steers watering in the pond. Those on aerated water gained 0.38 pounds per day more than those watering in the pond. Those on the purest water gained only slightly better than those on aerated water. Braul feels the reason may have been because too much chlorine was used in purifying the water. This year they're reducing the amount of chlorine used. Researchers are wondering if taste and odour are the real issue they're dealing with based on year one results. "You wouldn't expect as much improved weight gain between aerated and direct (access) from these kind of results," Braul said. As for cost, researchers estimated the $1500 cost of a solar panel, intake pump and hose and trough could be recovered from 100 head of cattle in just 110 days. Aeration with a compressor, hose and air stone would add $3,800 but the added gain would recover the cost in just 100 days. Further purification would cost $6,00() for a Lined coagulation dugout and ongoing costs of $300 a year for chemicals. To be justified based on cattle production alone, weight gain would need to improve about 0.48 pounds per day. In the first year, • however, there was little additional gain. Costs could be spread to family use and improved water for mixing pesticides, researchers said. Previous studies have shown when cattle drink more, they also eat more.° — Source: Western Producer