# Drinking water for livestock: what to look out for

Animals drink a lot of water every day. If the water is not good, they drink less. Here you can read what to look out for and when a water sample is worthwhile.


## Signs

Watch out for these signs:

- Animals drink less or stand at the drinking trough for a long time
- Rust-brown deposits in pipes or drinking troughs
- An unusual smell or colour in the water
- Slime or growth in the drinking troughs


## Water from your own source

Groundwater from your own well often contains iron and manganese. The composition can vary from season to season.

For this reason, have water from your own well tested regularly, for example once a year.


## Mains water and ditch water

Mains water is usually good at the tap in the house. In long pipes and drinking troughs it can still become contaminated.

Ditch water varies from ditch to ditch and from season to season.


## How we take the sample

We take the water at the tap point the animals drink from. For bacteria testing we use a sterile bottle.

The sample goes to the laboratory as quickly as possible, preferably the same day.


## Clean drinking troughs

A good water sample only helps if the drinking troughs are clean too. Clean them regularly, especially in summer.

## Further reading

- [Have a water sample taken](https://monsternemer.nl/en/services/water-sample/): Good drinking water is important for the health of your animals.
- [Which sample when](https://monsternemer.nl/en/knowledge/annual-planning/): An overview by season.
- [Frequently asked questions](https://monsternemer.nl/en/faq/): Answers to questions we are often asked.

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Source: https://monsternemer.nl/en/knowledge/drinking-water-livestock/