Livestock farming, like all agriculture, is heavily dependent on water. It is therefore not surprising that climate change characterised, among other things, by longer droughts is also leading to water scarcity within livestock farming. While these problems of water scarcity are a challenge for the entire agriculture and horticulture sector, the challenge within livestock farming is even stronger due to the need for high-quality water on the one hand and the continuous need for water all year round on the other.
To cope with the water scarcity in livestock farming in the future, efforts will have to be made to switch to alternative water sources (besides classical deep groundwater) and to save water where possible. To support the Flemish livestock industry in this conversion, correct and recent figures on drinking water consumption for the various animal species/animal categories, cleaning water (barns, milking techniques, etc.) and water used for cooling systems are lacking.
Figures that take into account current production rates and stable situations within modern livestock farming are also completely lacking.
Representative figures per animal category in relation to productivity and for specific processes are needed to correctly estimate water requirements per water consumption item (drinking water, cleaning water, etc.). These figures can then be used in four areas:
- Estimate water demand per farm and per water consumption item
- Based on water demand, explore options for an appropriate alternative water source or combination of water sources
- Monitor switching to alternative water sources so that abnormal drinking behaviour can be detected more quickly.
- Judging where and how water saving is possible especially in terms of cleaning water and how an alternative water source can be used as cleaning water without further treatment (and therefore cost).
