Summary
Water is the most needed nutrient on your farm, but it often gets the least attention. And that oversight can be expensive.
Researchers audited water management practices on 24 Canadian farms across all production stages. They found that nearly two-thirds of nipple drinkers in finishing barns were set at flow rates higher than pigs actually need. In a 6,000-head finishing barn, poorly adjusted drinkers could waste over 30,000 litres of water per day — costing around $41,500 per year in extra manure disposal costs alone.
The fix is simple and low-cost. Set nipple drinkers at shoulder height for the smallest pig in the pen, and keep flow rates between 0.5 and 1.0 litres per minute for most production stages. Check and adjust regularly — too little flow is just as problematic as too much.
Small adjustments to your water system could add up to significant savings on your operation.