Keep cool for the summer
Pigs require water for several processes, such as growth, reproduction, the proper function of cells, maintaining body temperature, and transporting nutrients into the body tissue. Water is the single most important nutrient to a pig’s welfare, yet it can often be taken for granted and its quality can sometimes be neglected. Water is also the most consumed nutrient in terms of amounts throughout a pig’s lifetime, so it’s important to provide enough. Pigs will not reach their maximum growth potential without continuous access to clean drinking water, so the quantity and quality of water are important in all stages of production.
The water requirements of pigs are primarily associated with body weight and feed intake. Pigs tend to drink about 10 per cent of their bodyweight per day, or roughly twice the amount of feed they eat. The daily water requirements for pigs are shown in Table 1 below.
To ensure that a pig’s water requirements are met, we must consider the following:
Water quality;
Water flow rate and pressure; and
Feed form and feeder type.
Water quality
The water systems in your piggery must supply good-quality, fresh water. In general, the quality of the pig’s water can be determined by measuring the presence of the following organic and inorganic elements:
Total bacterial count: Water contamination by bacteria is estimated by measuring the level of coliforms per millilitre of water. A total bacterial count of 50 colony-forming units (CFU) per millilitre is considered good. If coliform levels are higher than 100 CFU/ml, a chlorine treatment is recommended.
pH: Water pH ranging from 5.5 to 8.5 is considered acceptable. If water is too acidic (lower than 5.0), it can create corrosion and damage pipes and waterlines; on the other hand, a basic pH (higher than 8.5) can leave scaly deposits.
Hardness: Calcium and magnesium are the two predominant minerals that make water hard. In pig production, hard water can contribute to the formation of scale deposits. The optimal water hardness in pig production is below 60 parts per million (ppm) of calcium carbonate (CaCO3).
Total dissolved solids: Total dissolved solids (TDS), also known as water salinity, are the amounts of soluble salts and minerals dissolved in the water. Contaminants are usually measured in parts per million. Most of the time, the amount of minerals or salts dissolved is well within acceptable ranges, but sometimes very high levels can damage performance or equipment.
Nitrates and nitrites: Nitrates and nitrites are usually present in the water on a pig farm because the water supply is exposed to materials with high nitrogen levels, such as animal waste, nitrogen fertilisers, or decomposing organic material. Especially in monogastric animals, nitrites are 10 times more toxic than nitrates. Levels as low as 0.10 mg/L of nitrites can impact performance in pigs.
Good water quality starts by implementing a programme for testing water. Test both ends of each water line in the unit at least twice a year. Water lines should be cleaned regularly to prevent biofilm buildup, which can be a considerable source of microorganisms in the water. Keep in mind that special measures need to be taken in cleaning the lines, as chlorine-based disinfectants have little to no effect on biofilm. Cleaning the water lines will also increase the efficiency of chemicals used via water.
Water flow rate and pressure
To ensure that your pigs’ daily water requirements are met, the water systems on your unit need to provide an adequate flow rate for each stage of production. The recommended water flow rates for nipple drinkers are shown in Table 2, and it’s important that these guidelines be followed, because having a low flow rate increases a pig’s time spent at the drinker, while an overly high flow rate increases water wastage. Water flow rates can easily be measured with a stopwatch and plastic bottle as follows: place a one-litre plastic bottle or container underneath a drinker on your unit and, using the stopwatch, record how long it takes for the bottle to be filled. This will determine the flow rate of the drinker, and you can adjust as necessary.
Water pressure also influences the activation of water delivery devices by the pigs and the amount of water wastage. The recommended water pressure to facilitate drinker activation while controlling water spilling is 20 psi.
Feed form and feeder type
Feed form and feeder type can influence a pig’s water intake. For example, water consumption is greater for pigs that are fed meal diets compared to pellet diets, resulting in a similar water-to-feed ratio when accounting for differences in feed efficiency between the feed forms. Wet-dry feeders reduce water wastage compared to dry feeders and waterers.
On-farm checklist
Here is a quick checklist of things to consider if you are experiencing issues with low water intakes in your herd:
Temperature: Have you checked the temperature of the water? Like humans, pigs prefer water to be cold and fresh, and the temperature of the water can affect intake.
Flow rate: Have you measured the flow rate of the drinkers to ensure that it’s not too low or too high?
Water pressure: Have you checked the water pressure to see if it’s approximately 20 psi?
Quality: Have you sent any water samples to an accredited lab to be tested? This can help identify issues such as high salt levels and microbial and bacterial counts and poor water pH. Have you any issues with water hardness on the unit? Hard water can result in the accumulation of scale in the water system, causing nipple drinkers to become blocked.
Hygiene: Is the water coming from the drinkers clean? Would you drink the water that the pigs are getting?
Access: Have the pigs got continuous and unobstructed access to clean, fresh, cold water? Access to plenty of clean drinking water is fundamental for pigs, and the quality of the water can directly affect performance and productivity. By implementing a programme that monitors and maintains proper levels of water quality and by carrying out proper equipment maintenance, pig producers can avoid costly problems that can negatively affect the performance of their herd.