Water is also very important in the transport of heat for dissipation from the body. This has been a very important factor throughout the summer of 1999. The additional water requirement was promoted by the intense heat much of the Midwest experienced throughout the grazing season. The fall season always brings weaning and marketing of many beef calves born in the spring. Water plays a very important physiological role in the life of calves experiencing the weaning process which adds additional stress to this portion of life to the beef individual.
Water is also an excellent method of providing medication to weaned calves.
Most calves will drink even when they refuse to eat. Many individuals use some method of limit feeding stocker cattle. Water plays a very important function if limit feeding is regulated through a salt or salt-type ingredient. Keeping water available at all times when this type of management is used is essential since water is the source of removing toxic levels of the feed ingredients used to limit consumption.