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<br />Livestock Water <br /> <br />Consumption Requirements <br /> <br />The quantity of water used by livestock varies widely depending <br />upon the kind and age of the animal, the feeding and grazing conditions <br />and other environmental factors. The present consumption requirements <br />of Ilvestock'were estimated using the livestock numbers on hand January 1, <br />1966 (Table 13). <br /> <br />About 92 mi Ilion gal Ions of water are needed to supply the dai Iy <br />consumptive requirements of livestock. Beef cattle and calves consume <br />over 75 percent of the total amount fol lowed in order by hogs, mi Ik <br />cows, sheep, and chickens. The annual livestock consumptive water <br />requirement is more than 100,000 acre-feet. The distribution of the <br />requirement is shown by basin in Table 14. The Loup River Basin has <br />the highest livestock water requirement fol lowed in order by the Elkhorn, <br />Republican, and Middle Platte River Basins. <br /> <br />Sou rce of Wate r <br /> <br />Ground water is the most important source of livestock water in <br />Nebraska. Currently, about 81 percent of the total requirement comes <br />from this source. The widespread aval labi lity and use of ground water <br />has helped stabilize the livestock industry in the State. Water from <br /> <br />TABLE 13 <br /> <br />DAILY WATER REQUIREMENTS FOR LIVESTOCK <br /> <br />Kind~ <br />of Animal <br /> <br />b/ <br />N umbe r- <br />of Animals <br /> <br />Dai Iv <br />Per Head <br />(Gallons) <br /> <br />Reaulrement <br />Total <br />(Mi II ion Gallons) <br /> <br />Milk Cows 269,000 30.00 8.1 <br />Beef Cattle & Calves 5,990,000 12.00 71.9 <br />Sheep 577,000 1.80 1.1 <br />Hogs 2,561,000 4.00 10.2 <br />Chickens 6,791,000 0.06 .4 <br /> STATE TOTAL 91.7 <br /> <br />~ Horses, turkeys, etc. require a sma I I amount of water but are <br />not Included. <br />b/ Source: Nebraska Aqricultural Statistics, 1966 <br /> <br />29 <br />