Poor quality water, often containing high levels of sulphates, can lead to diarrhoea in newly weaned pigs while having minimal effect on performance. When a water quality problem is encountered, one has to determine whether the problem is merely diarrhoea, or if animal performance is reduced. Then steps can be taken to alleviate the problem. Elimination of water quality problems is difficult since there is no economical water treatment system available to remove sulphates. Other problems can be more effectively managed by reducing the sources of the problem.
Water wastage continues to be a concern in hog operations.
Improved feeding and water delivery systems are being introduced to reduce excessive spillage and decrease slurry output. References Alberta Agriculture, Food and Rural Development. 1996. Well Water Quality for Swine. Fraser, D. Patience, J.F., Phillips, P.A. and McLeese, J.M. 1990. Recent Advances in Animal Nutrition.