DISEASES OF CATTLE 53 



In young animals the per cent, is somewhat higher, and in old or 

 very fat animals it is somewhat lower. Water is not only necessary 

 because it is such an important component of the tissues, but also as 

 an aid to digestion. Food can only be assimilated when in a soluble 

 state, and hence a large quantity of water is required to carry on this 

 physiological process. 



It is not surprising that a relationship may exist between the 

 water supply and disease. This relationship may exist in two ways ; 

 first, by not furnishing an adequate supply of water or not being 

 accessible when needed; and second, by the water being the carrier 

 of matter which may cause disease. 



The quantity of water required by the different animals has not 

 been determined for all conditions. The horse requires from sixty- 

 four to eighty pounds, or eight to ten gallons per day, a gallon of 

 water weighing eight pounds. Cattle drink more than horses. The 

 Utah Experiment Station (Bui. 16) found that steers feeding upon 

 dry feed required 83 pounds of water per day, while those fed upon 

 green food consumed only 33 pounds per day. 



Cattle drank 72 per cent, of water in the morning and 28 per 

 cent, in the evening. We have conducted no experiments to deter- 

 mine the quantity of water required during the summer months. 



No attempt has been made to determine the quantity of water 

 needed daily for sheep, and I find no satisfactory tests recorded. 

 Owing to the close grazing habits of sheep, they drink compara- 

 tively little water while upon pasture. They can endure privation 

 as regards water far beyond other domestic animals. This has led 

 to the common belief among farmers that sheep do not need water, 

 and that the dew is sufficient. This is a serious mistake and accounts 

 for the loss of many hundred lambs in this State every year. 



The number of times an animal will drink during the day, 

 when allowed full opportunity, is not known, but is indicated in a 

 general way by the stomach. The stomach of the horse is small, and, 

 as might be supposed, does not require much water at a time, but 

 often. The stomach in cattle is very large, and rumination (chewing 

 the cud) is performed. This necessitates saturating the food with 

 water before rumination can take place, and probably explains why 

 so much water is drunk in the morning. 



The diseases which arise as a result of supplying water in insuffi- 

 cient quantities, or not providing water in accessible places, are spo- 

 radic in character, that is, affect only an occasional animal or a few 

 in a herd or flock. Probably the most serious disease having sucK 

 cause is mad itch in cattle. This occurs especially in the fall of the 

 year, when the cattle are upon dry pasture, or when turned in upon 

 a dry stalk field. It may occur at other times, and also be due to 

 other causes, but without doubt, 90 per cent, of the cases occurring 

 are directly traceable to this cause. Sheep also suffer from impac- 

 tion and constipation, and large numbers die for want of proper 

 water supply. Hogs, especially young onas, often succumb from like 

 treatment. Horses probably suffer least loss, because they receive 



