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South Dakota Livestock producers are encouraged to test their water sources as poor quality water can cause health problems in livestock.

SDSU Extension Cow/Calf Field Specialist Robin Salverson says high levels of sulfates in the water have caused polioencephalomalacia in some herds already this year, with blindness being a result. She says livestock water samples from the northwestern part of the state have indicated high levels of total salts, but this type of poor quality water can be found in all of western and possibly portions of eastern South Dakota.

Poor quality water will cause an animal to consume less water, as a result they will consume less forage/feed which leads to weight loss, decreased milk production and lower fertility. It can be successfully treated through the use of thiamine and anti-inflammatory injections, if caught early.

Salverson says whether big or small, full or running low, water from wells, dams, dugouts and creeks are often high in total salts, especially sulfates. Poor water quality is caused by areas having little to no runoff from snow or spring rain and accelerated by hot, dry and windy conditions. Additionally, certain water sources regardless of dry or wet years, are high in total salts. The only way to know if water is suitable for livestock is through testing.

Water sources such as spring-fed reservoirs and water that appears to be clear are often assumed to be safe but can still be high in salts/sulfates. The visual appearance of water should not be used to determine if the water is good or bad.

A quick, on-site test can be done at all SDSU Extension Regional Centersincluding the one in Pierre and some SDSU Extension County Offices across South Dakota. Contact your veterinarian to determine a treatment plan if you have any concern of potential losses due to polio.

For additional information or questions, contact Robin Salverson, SDSU Extension Cow/Calf Field Specialist, at 605.374.4177 or robin.salverson@sdstate.edu.

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Poor water quality may cause blindness, other issues in livestock - Drgnews

This entry was posted on July 3, 2020 at 8:43 pm and is filed under Blindness. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed. |