The Overlooked Nutrient: Drinking Water in Pig Farming

In the realm of pig farming, the focus is often on diet, housing, and equipment. However, one crucial nutrient is frequently overlooked: water. Despite its importance, the quality of drinking water for pigs is seldom considered, yet it plays a pivotal role in the health and productivity of the animals.

Water is vital to a pig’s diet, particularly when they consume dry feed. Pigs can consume at least twice the amount of water compared to their feed intake. Therefore, ensuring the quality and availability of water is essential for maintaining the health of the herd.

Basic Requirements for Drinking Water

There are several basic requirements for drinking water that need to be met to ensure it is suitable for pigs:

Taste: The water must be palatable to encourage sufficient intake.
Suitability: The water should be safe for both the pigs and the end consumers of the meat.
Usability: The water should not adversely affect the drinking lines or related technology.

Ensuring Water Quality

To guarantee the quality of drinking water, several factors must be considered:

Taste: Pigs have a highly developed sense of smell, making them sensitive to the taste and odor of water. Regular testing and monitoring are necessary to ensure water remains palatable.
Temperature: The ideal temperature for drinking water is between 12 to 22°C.
System Consistency: Ensure a consistent watering system is in place for pigs of all ages, with a maximum of 12 animals per drinker and never fewer than two drinkers.
Ensure each day that all animals have free access to water. For drinkers positioned at a 90-degree angle, adjust them to align with the shoulder height of the smallest pig in the pen. For those at a 60-degree angle, set them 5 cm above the shoulder of the smallest pig. When using a bowl, make sure the lip is at 40% of the smallest piglet's height to allow easy access.
Position: Bowls should be placed close to the feeders whilst nipple drinkers must be allocated in wet areas of the pen.

Water Intake and Requirements

The daily water intake varies depending on the weight and stage of growth of the pigs. For instance, piglets under the sow require approximately 0.7 to 1 liter per head per day, while lactating sows can consume up to 60 liters per day.

Monitoring and Testing

Initial quality assessment should occur on the farm. Check water lines, medicators if present, and drinking systems for condition and placement. Perform sensory evaluations such as visual and olfactory checks. Conductivity, which relates to hardness, and pH (high pH with HCO3-) are crucial; a high pH combined with high conductivity increases the risk of scale formation.

For lab analysis, 1 litre of water is needed for chemical and microbiological testing. Examining hardness and ions in the solution is crucial. Microbial analysis helps determine the necessity for disinfection and organic contamination.

Regular testing of water quality is crucial. Parameters such as pH, hardness, ammonia, chloride, iron, and manganese levels should be monitored to ensure they remain within acceptable ranges.

		PIGS	HUMANS*
pH		>5 and <9	6.5-9.5
Hardness	°dH	<18	-
Conductability	μS/cm	<3000	2500
Ammonia	mg/l	<3	0.5
Chloride		<500	250
Iron		<3	0.2
Manganese		<4	0.05
Calcium		500	No limit
Redox potential		<50	5

*German drinking water norms, Source BMLF 2007 adapted

Treatment and Disinfection

Treatments such as acidification and chlorine dioxide can help maintain water quality. However, it is important to consider factors such as pH levels, organic contamination, and the presence of biofilms. Proper treatment can prevent scale formation, reduce bacterial proliferation, and enhance water quality. It is recommended to use Hydrogen peroxide or other agents to eliminate all biofilm once the cycle is complete or when the room is vacant.

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Conclusion

Ensuring the quality of drinking water is pivotal in pig farming. Initial testing can be conducted in a laboratory, but ongoing monitoring should be performed on the farm. By paying attention to water taste, suitability, and usability, farmers can significantly enhance the health and productivity of their pigs.

Embrace the importance of water quality, and your herd will thrive as a result.

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