Modeling Daily Water Intake in Cattle Finished in Feedlots

Authors

Rodrigo A. Arias, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Terry L. Mader, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow

Date of this Version

January 2008

Comments

Published in 2008 Nebraska Beef Cattle Report. Copyright © 2007 The Board of Regents of the University of Nebraska.

Abstract

Simple regression and multiple regression analyses were conducted to estimate factors affecting daily water intake(DWI) of finishing cattle. Seasonal simple linear regression equations were very poor predicting DWI (r² < 0.15). Best results were obtained with the overall simple regression. The multiple regression analysis showed that daily minimum temperature (or THI), solar radiation, and dry matter intake were the most important factors affecting DWI in cattle finished in feedyards. The following prediction equation was developed: daily water intake, gal*d^-1 = -0.52677+ (0.1229 *DMI, lb*d^-1) + (0.01137*solar radiation, kcal*d^-1) + (0.06529*daily minimum temperature, °F).