Paper: How advances in animal efficiency and management have affected beef cattle’s water intensity in the United States: 1991 compared to 2019.
Benjamin Franklin once said, “When the well is dry, we know the worth of water.” Animal health pros realize water quality affects animal health outcomes. So does water availability. While the beef industry has been focusing on greenhouse gas mitigation in recent years, researchers believe there is a need for continuous attention to water use and water mitigation.
In research funded by the Beef Checkoff, scientists studied water source intensity and water use over 18 years. Water continues to be a concern for beef cattle production, particularly in the West where surface and ground water are rapidly depleting.
The study analyzed changes in water use from blue water (ground water/wells) sources versus green water (surface) sources noting a 37.6 percent reduction in blue water intensity over the period.
<Despite the reduction in intensity ratios> . . . water scarcity issues in the western U.S. cattle production regions may force cattle producers to move to areas with greater blue and green water availability.”
Source: Journal of Animal Science, September 5, 2022. Link.