Water: the forgotten nutrient in pigs 

Water is the number one nutrient needed by all living things. No animal can survive very long without it. Water is also a vector for the distribution of disease-causing pathogens, and its cleanliness on farms is important for the health of animals. Trials have shown that dirty water can reduce growth rates in young animals by 20 to 30 percent and may reduce milk production in lactating sows.

For pigs, and other mammals, water plays an important role in many metabolic functions. It helps to maintain and control body temperature through intake and during exhalation when the heat is dissipated from the pig. Water is lost from the body in three ways: through respiration, in the urine or in the feces. Any imbalances in water intake and losses cause several classical symptoms: dehydration and increased concentration of urine, very dry dung/constipation, hollow eyes and dehydrated skin.

Metabolically, water is responsible for providing a suitable environment for digestion in the gut, for transporting nutrients throughout the body via blood and eliminating waste products through the kidneys. The correct concentrations within the blood are regulated by water intake, and this is important, for example, in the transportation of hormones. Water regulates the acid alkali balance in the body through the controls exerted by the kidney, and this affects various metabolic functions in which pH needs to be optimized. For protein synthesis, water is needed in high amounts and therefore dictates the body’s ability to produce digestive enzymes, for example.

Water quality

Water contains various ingredients, including dissolved minerals (depending on its geological source), nutrients from manure or fertiliser contamination, and a range of pathogens: viral, bacterial and fungal. The level of contamination is typically dependent on the nutrients available in the water to support colony growth. Hence, polluted ground waters are most at risk of high pathogen content. The presence of coliform bacteria (e.g., E. coli and related bacteria) is an indication of fecal contamination and a potential source of disease. Water should be regularly tested for the presence of pathogens, especially toxin producers such as Campylobacter and Pseudomonas spp., as well as toxic algae. Bore holes, wells and roof collection systems are particularly at risk of contamination and should be regularly tested. An animal-safe disinfection programme should be installed on-farm and regularly checked and maintained (ideally daily) to prevent waterborne disease.

To arrange a complimentary Alltech Pig ASSIST audit for your herd, please contact us at pigsolutions@alltech.com.