Abstract
Context Water is the first nutrient and an essential component of all agricultural production systems. Despite its importance there has been limited research on water, and in particular, the impact of its availability, management and quality on production systems. Aims This research sought to describe the management and quality of water used within the Australian pig industry. Specifically, the water sources utilised, how water was managed and to evaluate water quality at both the source and the point of delivery to the pig. Methods Fifty-seven commercial piggeries across Australia participated in this study by completing a written survey on water management. In addition, survey participants undertook physical farm parameter measurements including collecting water samples. Each water sample was tested for standard quality parameters including pH, hardness, heavy metals and microbiological status. Key results Responses were received from 57 farms, estimated to represent at least 22% of ‘large’ pig herds. Bore water was the most common water source being utilised within the farms surveyed. Management practices and infrastructure delivering water from the source to the point of consumption were found to differ across the farms surveyed. Furthermore, water was regularly used as a delivery mechanism for soluble additives such as antibiotics. The quality of water at the source and point of consumption was found to be highly variable with many parameters, particularly pH, hardness, salinity, iron, manganese and microbiological levels, exceeding the acceptable standard. Conclusions In general, water quality did not appear to be routinely monitored or managed. As a result, farm managers had poor visibility of the potential negative impacts that inferior water quality or management may be having on pig production and in turn the economics of their business. Indeed, inferior water quality may impact the delivery of antibiotics and in turn undermine the industry’s antimicrobial stewardship efforts. Implications The study findings suggest that water quality represents a significant challenge to the Australian pig industry. Access to drinking water of an acceptable quality is essential for optimal pig performance, health and welfare but also to ensure farm to fork supply chain integrity, traceability and food safety.
Highlights
Water is a fundamental component of all agricultural production systems with water being utilised from many different sources including rivers, irrigation channels, dams, ground water and mains supply in Australia
Farm managers had poor visibility of the potential negative impacts that inferior water quality or management may be having on pig production and in turn the economics of their business
Inferior water quality may impact the delivery of antibiotics and in turn undermine the industry’s antimicrobial stewardship efforts
Summary
Water is a fundamental component of all agricultural production systems with water being utilised from many different sources including rivers, irrigation channels, dams, ground water and mains supply in Australia. Due to geographical variation and climatic events, water source accessibility and its resulting quality can be highly variable. As such all water sources should be considered a farm biosecurity risk as they pose a viable entry point and conduit for transmission of water-borne pathogens (Department of Agriculture 2009). Journal compilation Ó CSIRO 2021 Open Access CC BY including, but not limited to, the environment, accessibility, animal physiology, health status and behaviour (Nyachoti and Kiarie 2010). The ambient temperature, the level of competition around the feeder, diet and water flow rate all influence water use and drinking behaviour in pigs (Adam and Voets 2006; Andersen et al 2014). Water management systems including the number, www.publish.csiro.au/journals/an
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