Fire and water, two hot topics on Gippsland farms

It’s been tough for dairy farmers. Hay, grain and water prices are well above the long-term prices. Production prices have steadily risen. Along with drought and the fires, it’s no wonder we often hear that it’s a hard grind in the dairy trade. This situation is meaning resources and smart farming are the key to surviving.

What’s the weather forecast? Where can I get hold of grain? Have I got enough water? Have I got the grass right? Are the cows up at optimum health and are they getting the right nutrients? These are some of the common questions. However, one of the less common questions asked, but is now being asked more and more, is “have I got the water quality right?”

The issue of water quality and the science of its effects on animal performance has been known for decades. For humans there are strict rules and guidelines in place internationally and domestically to ensure that water is safe and of high quality. However, it’s only recently that the study on water has started to gain a faster momentum for livestock, with more research done out of the USA and more investment now taking place in Australia and New Zealand. Your local animal nutritionist will typically know all about this.

Human drinking water guidelines publish a range of values from best practise through to health concern level. Unfortunately, previous guidelines published for livestock focus only on water quality for livestock that will have serious health concerns, like diarrhoea or death as opposed to water quality for optimum health. While these documents have been based on sound science, they do not address the issues that farmers are now beginning to understand. Issues about the effects of best practise water quality on livestock.

The other change that is happening is in water treatment technology. Water treatment technology is being developed rapidly. New ways to bring traditional proven large-scale processes down to farm level are coming forth every day. The use of smart chemicals, nano-technology, and remote sensing are all beginning to play a large part in making water treatment more adaptable and achievable. However, while the tech developments are exciting and with the age of the global market/internet, it is incredibly important to qualify suppliers of water treatment technology. There are already many stories floating around of overseas suppliers or one-man bands that sell and walk away with no support, leaving a victimised and deserted farmer wondering “what have they done?” and “what do they do to get it to work?”

There is also a lot of marketing done by some Reverse Osmosis (RO) companies that market “slap it in and it will take out everything”. While RO membranes will remove most things, there are actually careful considerations for proper pre-treatments and for each livestock type, whether it is piggeries, poultry, horses or dairy. Without proper pre-treatment, expensive membranes can have very short lifespans. If RO can be avoided, it should be. Water too pure can be just as detrimental. For example, RO used for human drinking needs to have things added back to it after it has passed through the RO system (Remineralisation) in order to be fit for consumption. The other big down side to RO systems are the high energy consumption and the waste. A lot of agriculture RO systems can take 2-3 litres to produce 1 litre. This means if you need 50,000 litres of clean water per day, you could be dealing with 50,000 litres waste per day. That’s a lot of waste.

If you are looking at water treatment, make sure you ask about experience, qualifications, what access there is to on-site service, what spare parts are stocked locally and read any guarantee carefully. Good water treatment takes careful consideration and engineering. Consideration is required of both environmental and demand variables.

All too often we have heard people assume that their water is good. Assumptions like “my cows look fine” or “my water is spring fed” are often common excuses for overlooking problems that could be costing profit.Common water problem areas in Gippsland can be broken down into a few categories. Biological, dirt, iron problems and hard water.

- Biological issues are varied and complex in Gippsland. It can range from explosively high levels of E. Coli in the water through to blue green algae. There are also many cases of intermediate species causing headaches.

- Sediment issues are typically related to the local soil type, i.e. muddy clay dams or a dirty drain. Clay will often carry a lot of heavy metals with it and provides an excellent environment for bacteria.

- There are many areas in Gippsland that have high iron levels, typically areas of high iron in

Gippsland are from bore water. Bores around the Strzelecki’s, down to the flats of around Bayles and beyond are typical high iron areas. Other high iron areas include the southern face of the great dividing range from Willow Grove through to Maffra area. Some coastal areas along from Yarram hide pockets of high iron water as well. Iron reducing bacteria is also a common problem in bores across Gippsland.

- Hardness can be hit and miss in Gippsland. In northern or western Victoria, it is common that water from the bore can be quite hard. In Gippsland, it is not as common, but alternatively the soils can make dam water quite hard.

All these attributes can have markedly different effects on livestock. Bacteria can cause sickness and can also mean any animal has to spend energy fighting the bacteria. Iron levels can inhibit the uptake of other key nutrients while other factors can influence the taste of water. Just like for humans, the taste of the drinking water can affect willingness to drink, even if it is the only source. As the old saying goes, “You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make it drink”.

At Acqua by Davey, we have a comprehensive understanding of water quality for animals. We offer consultancy, water testing and solutions. So, if you have any questions or would like to get your water checked out, make sure you contact us on 0409 691 086. 6 Lakeview Drive, Scoresby, Victoria. Email info@acquabydavey.com