Seasons on your patch?

[Green Aura]

I thought I spotted an Angus.

[Weedo]

Sorry Bonnie, I didn't answer your other query - 75 litres per head per day is the minimum we allow for in pipeline flow and reserve (we hold about 4 days reserve in case of pump breakdown) 75 litres is about the average daily consumption per head in summer - naturally a 1500kg bull needs more than a 250kg weaner. This is not really a lot when you consider the amount we Western people are supposed to need. There are a lot of different formulas but one (Mayo) puts the daily figure at 2.5 litres for a 75Kg male - this extrapolates to 250 litres for a 750Kg cow! Also we, and cows, get a lot of our water from food - green spring pasture is about 80 - 90% water so they actually drink little then; at the moment their diet is 100% dry summer feed, only 10% water, and the temps are daily + 30 C so they take more water at this time.

Cattle are really very good at managing their metabolism; they really don't sweat except from a very few places, stay inactive and in the shade to stay cool and group together to reduce the total body area exposed.

[Weedo]

Green Aura - the only pure angus we have are the bulls, for production about half our breeding herd are Shorthorn X Angus F1, Because Angus are black (at least the black ones are) and red is dominant in Shorthorns F1 and F2 offspring are almost always black, black with some white and the occasional blue. Pure Shorthorns can be anything in between solid red to solid white

[bonniethomas06]

I suppose when you put it like that it isn't that much per head. Interesting stuff.

If I am ever in a pub quiz and the question comes up as to whether cows sweat, I will think of you!