Abstract:
470 Proc. Aust. Soc. Anim. Prod. Vol. 17 ATTRACTING CATTLE TO TREATED WATER SUPPLIES N.F. STANDFAST* and P.J. HASKER+ Many soluble medicaments and supplements may be given to cattle through their drinking water. Where alternative water supplies exist, a cheap effective attractant should encourage cattle to drink the treated water. As cattle prefer sweet flavours (Church 1979) we measured the preference of cattle for water treated with a range of sweeteners and food flavours. In a series of trials, groups of four 2-year-old, spayed Sahiwal-cross heifers (mean LW 290 kg) were fed lab lab hay ad lib. in pens, each pen containing two 160 L water troughs. Flavoured water was placed in one trough and untreated water in the other. Water intakes were measured daily for seven days. Of 24 flavours tested, cattle showed strong preference, i.e., >80% of total water intake, only for sugar and molasses solutions (Table 1). .Table 1. Preference ratings (% of total water intake) for various flavours However, we found that dilute sugar and molasses solutions ferment with time and become unpalatable. The addition of 0.1% sodium benzoate and 0.06% HCL to lower pH to 4 ,appeared to prevent spoilage of a 2.5% sugar solution. We tested the palatability of this solution and its preference by cattle, using two groups of four heifers (LW 314 kg) in three treatments. Daily total water intakes by heifers offered treated water alone (42.1 L) or a choice between treated and untreated water (49.3 L) were significantly (PcO.05) greater than intakes by heifers offered untreated water alone (22.2 L). Heifers offered a choice drank 45.8 L flavoured and 3.5 L untreated water daily. However, the high intakes of flavoured water significantly reduced the intake of hay by heifers (6.5 vs 8.6 kg/hd/d, PcO.05). Cattle showed no ill effects after drinking the treated water for seven days. It appears that dilute sugar and molasses solutions are attractants worth field-testing, provided microbial break-down is prevented. CHURCH, D.C. (1979). 'Digestive Physiology and Nutrition of Ruminants', Vol 2, P= 238, editor D.C. Church. (0 & B Books, Inc: Oregon). *Qld Dept of Primary Industries, 'Brian Pastures' Research Station, Gayndah, 4625. +Qld Dept of Primary Industries, G.P.O. Box 46, Brisbane, 4001.