Comparison of two water measurement systems for feedlot beef cattle

  • Júlio Cesar Pascale Palhares Embrapa Pecuária Sudeste (EMBRAPA), Rodovia Washington Luiz, km 234, CEP: 13560-970, São Carlos, SP, Brazil.
  • Marcela Morelli Departamento de Nutrição e Produção Animal. Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia. Universidade de São Paulo (USP), Avenida Duque de Caxias Norte, n°225, CEP:13635-900, Pirassununga, SP, Brazil.
  • Táisla Inara Novelli Departamento de Nutrição e Produção Animal. Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia. Universidade de São Paulo (USP), Avenida Duque de Caxias Norte, n°225, CEP:13635-900, Pirassununga, SP, Brazil.
  • Paulo de Méo Filho Sustainable Agriculture Sciences. Rothamsted Research, Harpenden, EX20 2SB, Okehampton, Devon, United Kingdom.
  • Matheus Toshio Hisatugu Instituto de Ciências Matemáticas e de Computação. Departamento de Matemática Aplicada e Estatística. Universidade de São Paulo (USP), Avenida Trabalhador São Carlense, n°400, CEP: 13566-590, São Carlos, SP, Brazil.
Keywords: electronic drinkers, precision livestock farming, water meter

Abstract

The objective of this study was to compare cattle drinking water consumption collected electronically with that of direct human observation using water metres and to analyse whether an automated system compensates due to its greater precision. The study was conducted in the feedlot of Embrapa Pecuaria Sudeste. The reference unit had four pens: two with electronic drinkers and two with water metres. Experiment 1 utilised 52 Nelore steers and Experiment 2 utilised 44 Canchim steers. Nelore fed a conventional diet, the automated system median daily water intake (DWI) was higher than for animals drinking from the water metre, 17.9 L day-1 and 15.6 L day-1. The reverse was observed for animals fed the co-product diet, the automated system median DWI was 18.9 L day-1 and in the water metre pen was 23.0 L day-1. When the Canchim drank from water metres, the median DWI was lower than with the automated system group, 25.9 L day-1 and 27.8 L day-1, respectively. In Experiment 1, there was a statistical difference between the two sets of equipment for both diets. In Experiment 2, the animals were the same breed, had similar weights and were fed the same diet. There was no statistical difference between the equipment in these conditions. The results indicate that the water meter can have the same performance as high technology at a much lower cost. If a more simplified system for measuring water consumption has the same performance as an automated system, this will justify its use with environmental and economic advantages.


Published
27/07/2021
Section
Papers