I never thought a dive in the stock tank could feel better. Yesterday was a hot one and today will only be worse. Folks summer has arrived in Arkansas. The 7-day shows lows 73-74 and highs 95-98 all week-long. I have never been to a sauna, but I have a feeling those of us in the South know what it feels like. Ya start the day off sweating and the only relief is when the relative humidity drops as the temps rise (relative being the key word here).

I snapped this photo of the thermometer in my pickup. It first read 125 before I pulled out the phone. Obviously this reading is a lil off, but it sure reminds me things could be worse. I could be in Arizona where temps above the century mark are common occurrence during Summer months, or I could be in Texas where ranchers are still dealing with droughts and remanents of recent wild fires. We have water here in Arkansas, the ponds got a good flushing this Spring and the grass got a good start this year. Now the heat has arrived just in time for hay season.

With all this heat it’s super important to keep ourselves hydrated, as well as our livestock a plentiful, fresh supply of water. It’s easy to overlook water needs for Pistol who rides in the bed of the pickup all day. Our cattle and horses have several water sources in the pastures: ponds, creeks, streams, and even automatic fresh water tanks. But have you ever considered exactly how much water these livestock drink each day?

The answer is not as easy as ABC, but this page from North Dakota State does a good job of starting the conversation. Water requirements obviously vary for different species, but water requirements increase with work load, pregnancy status, higher feed intake, certain types of diet, and environmental stresses.

Water Requirements for Different Species

Humans – 0.5 gal

Working Horses – 12-18 gal

Lactating Cows – 16-19 gal

Working Dog – 0.2 gal

These above figures are just bases to start from. Get into days like this with a heat index close to the century mark and I guarantee you I’ll be drinking much more than a half gallon of water before noon. Did you know a gallon of water weighs just over 8 pounds?

How do you keep yourself, pets, and livestock with a fresh supply of water when the mercury rises?

Published by Ryan Goodman

Ryan Goodman works in grassroots advocacy as a communications consultant with beef cattle farmers and ranchers across the United States. He is a proud alumnus of Oklahoma State University, with studies focusing on cattle reproduction and nutrition. Ryan's experience in the beef industry range from family farms and ranches in several states to large feedlots and non-profit policy organizations. Ryan is an avid trail and ultrarunner, proudly showing how beef can be an important part of a healthy diet and active lifestyle. Find Ryan on social media as @BeefRunner.