Water quality affects livestock productivity

Water is the most important nutrient for livestock. A quality and safe water supply is essential to the production of healthy livestock. If water is not suitable for consumption, it can adversely affect the growth, reproduction, and productivity of livestock.

What makes water unsatisfactory for livestock in eastern Montana? It is often due to excessive salinity-too high concentration of dissolved salts, more specifically sulfates.

Salinity, or total dissolved solids (TDS), is a good general indicator of water quality. Total dissolved solids are the sum of all minerals, metals, and salts dissol...