Correlation Between Weather Conditions and the Watering Cycle of Beef Cows in Pastures

Abstract

This paper presents an analysis of the drinking cycle of Qazaq Aqbas cows during the grazing period in Northern Kazakhstan, which was conducted on 91 heads via an automated platform developed by scientists at Seifullin Kazakh Agrotechnical Research University (Kazakhstan). The research revealed that the animals consumed an average of 3 water types (2.94 +/- 0.53). The dependence on climatic conditions emphasizes the importance of considering the wind direction and speed, which significantly affect water consumption and the duration of watering by animals. The results of the statistical analyses (P=0.022 and P=0.035) confirmed that both the wind direction and speed significantly affected water intake. The animals began drinking water at 5 a.m. and continued until 9 p.m., with the peak number of visits to the watering hole observed in the morning and after the day of feed intake. In the hottest months, with an average ambient temperature of 23.5 degrees & Scy; during the grazing period, cows spend 87.12 seconds or 1.5 minutes per approach to water, with an average relative air humidity of 57.0%. The temperature-humidity index of 31.5 is very low and does not cause stress in beef cows. The relationship between the time of water consumption by the Qazaq Aqbas cows and the ambient temperature is positive on average,-0.60, with relative air humidity (moderately average negative) and with the temperature-humidity index (THI) average positive. Thus, to ensure comfortable conditions for keeping beef cows during the grazing period, it is important to consider many parameters and provide free access when the need for liquid is maximal.