WATER TURNOVER OF GROWING CATTLE FED FRESH CUT GRASS OR HAY AND GRAZED ON PASTURE

Water turnover and consumption of steers fed either fresh cut grass or hay and water turnover of steers grazed in summer or in fall were determined using 18 Holstein steers weighing 226 to 382 kg. Steers consumed 7.0 or 7.5 kg of dry-matter from hay or fresh cut grass. Animals fed hay drank significantly more water than those given fresh cut grass (P<0.01). Total water consumption, however, was greater in steers fed fresh cut grass than those given hay (P<0.05). Water turnover was about the same as total water consumption with a tendency for slightly higher values in water turnover irrespective of feeding regimes. Steers grazed in summer had greater water turnover than those grazed in fall. Water turnover was about the same in steers fed fresh cut grass and grazed in summer but decreased in steers on the dry ration or grazing in a cool season of the year.