Water is the first thing to check when livestock stop eating, stop growing or suddenly look weak.
An animal can survive for some time with less feed. It cannot do well without enough clean water.
Water helps the body control heat, digest feed, move nutrients, make milk and eggs, remove waste and keep normal body functions working.
For Nigerian farmers, water becomes even more important in hot weather because animals drink more when the temperature rises.
Why water matters so much
Water is needed for:
- digestion;
- blood circulation;
- control of body temperature;
- milk production;
- egg production;
- growth;
- movement of nutrients;
- removal of waste from the body; and
- normal organ function.
If water is restricted, feed intake can drop. When feed intake drops, growth, egg production and milk production can also drop.
Hot weather increases water need
Animals drink more in hot weather because they are trying to control body heat.
This is very important for poultry. Birds do not sweat. They depend heavily on panting and water intake to manage heat.
During hot weather, check water more often. Do not wait until birds start panting heavily before you discover that a tank is empty or drinkers are blocked.
Water and poultry production
Broilers need water before they can make proper use of feed. A bird that is not drinking well will usually not eat well.
Layers also need enough water to maintain egg production.
A sudden drop in water intake can be an early sign of:
- blocked drinkers;
- low water pressure;
- dirty water;
- disease;
- cooler weather; or
- birds losing access to the drinker line.
A sudden rise in water intake can point to:
- hot weather;
- high salt in feed;
- diarrhoea;
- water leakage; or
- some health problems.
Do not look at feed alone. Water records can tell you that something is wrong before body weight or egg production falls.
Water and pigs
Pigs need free access to clean water.
Lactating sows need especially good water access because milk production places a heavy demand on the body.
Newly weaned piglets also need easy access to drinkers. If the drinker is too high, too hard to operate or has poor flow, piglets may not drink enough even when water is technically available.
Water and cattle
Cattle water use changes with body size, milk production, feed type and weather.
Dairy cows can drink large amounts because milk contains a lot of water.
Dry feed also increases water need compared with feeds that contain more moisture.
Do not expect a fixed number of litres to fit every cow. The important thing is that clean water is available whenever the animal wants to drink.
Water and goats and sheep
Goats and sheep also need drinking water.
Some goats cope better than cattle when water is limited, but that does not mean water is optional.
Pregnant, lactating and growing animals need especially reliable water access.
Water and rabbits
Rabbits must have continuous access to clean water.
Hot weather can quickly increase water need.
A blocked nipple drinker can become dangerous because a rabbit may look normal at first while water intake has already stopped.
Dirty water can cause problems
Water that looks clear is not always safe.
Nigerian research has found bacterial contamination in poultry drinking water when drinkers were not cleaned regularly.
In one southwestern Nigeria study, bacterial counts increased as drinkers were left unwashed for several days. The researchers found organisms including Escherichia coli, Salmonella and other bacteria in farm drinking water.
See the Nigerian poultry drinking water study.
A more recent Nigerian study also found faecal contamination in some borehole water used around livestock market settlements.
See the 2025 Nigeria water quality study.
The lesson is simple: borehole water, well water, river water or stored tank water should not be assumed safe just because it looks clean.
What should farmers check in water?
Check:
- smell;
- colour;
- taste where appropriate;
- mud or particles;
- algae;
- salt level;
- iron staining;
- bacterial contamination;
- source of the water; and
- whether the water changes between dry and rainy season.
When there is a repeated flock or herd problem, water testing can save money. Browse our poultry, livestock and fish health guides for other signs to check and when to seek professional help.
Do not assume every borehole is safe
Boreholes are common on Nigerian farms, but quality differs from one location to another.
Some water may contain high salt, iron or bacterial contamination.
If animals avoid the water, production drops after a new borehole is introduced, or the water leaves heavy deposits in tanks and drinkers, test it.
Clean drinkers regularly
Even good water becomes dirty inside a dirty drinker.
Clean drinkers before slime, feed, droppings and algae build up.
For poultry, inspect drinker lines and open drinkers every day.
For cattle, goats and sheep, remove manure, mud and feed from troughs.
Water temperature matters in hot weather
Very hot water can reduce drinking.
Where possible:
- keep tanks under shade;
- avoid long exposed pipes where water becomes very hot;
- flush hot water from lines when needed;
- check water at the far end of the house; and
- make sure tanks do not run dry during the hottest part of the day.
Drinker number and position matter
Water can be available on the farm and still be unavailable to the animal.
This happens when:
- there are too few drinkers;
- drinkers are too high or too low;
- pressure is weak;
- dominant animals block timid animals;
- drinkers are far from resting or feeding areas; or
- some drinkers are broken.
Signs that animals may not be getting enough water
Watch for:
- reduced feed intake;
- weakness;
- dry mouth;
- sunken eyes;
- poor growth;
- drop in milk;
- drop in egg production;
- thick droppings or constipation in some species;
- crowding around drinkers when water returns; and
- animals drinking desperately after a supply problem.
Do not say the more water an animal drinks, the healthier it is
Animals need enough water, not unlimited forced water intake.
Very high water intake can also be a warning sign.
The farmer should know what is normal for the flock or herd and investigate sudden changes.
Keep simple water records
On a commercial farm, write down daily water use where possible. Our guide to keeping poultry records explains how to track feed, water, losses and production together.
This is especially useful for poultry.
Compare water use with:
- weather;
- feed intake;
- bird age;
- mortality;
- egg production; and
- medicine or vaccination days.
Simple farmer water checklist
- Is water available now?
- Are all drinkers working?
- Is the water clean?
- Is the tank full?
- Is pressure good?
- Is the water too hot?
- Are animals drinking normally?
- Has intake changed suddenly?
- Are troughs and drinkers clean?
- Does the water source need testing?
Bottom line
Water is not just something animals drink after feeding. It is part of the feeding programme itself.
If water is poor, feed will not give the result you expect.
Check water every day, especially in hot weather.
When livestock performance drops, check the water before you start blaming the feed.
