Featuring insights from Elsie Rankin, Kemin Customer Laboratory Services (CLS) Field Service Manager
When it comes to livestock and poultry health, water isn't just a necessity, it's a silent partner in every aspect of an animal's wellbeing. Yet, the story of water quality is far more complex than meets the eye. That's why having unmatched expertise in water analysis is essential, not just to conduct tests, but to interpret the results and uncover hidden issues.
Water Analysis
Water analysis is your first line of defense, revealing what contaminants are present and how severe the issues might be.
Recommended tests for livestock and poultry drinking water:
- Iron content
- Minerals
- Total aerobic bacteria count
- Total coliforms count
What to consider when testing water:
- Suitability for growth: Some tests, such as iron content, will help you determine if the right conditions are present to encourage bacteria. Iron can be metabolized by microbes, promoting their growth in the waterlines.
- Presence of bacteria: Check the total plate count or total aerobic bacteria to identify what's present. These tests look at the total level of contamination, so results will include a mix of good, bad, and indifferent bacteria providing a snapshot of contamination throughout the waterline.
- Fecal contamination: Water samples can also be tested for the presence of E. coli or coliforms. The presence of coliforms, or more specifically E. coli, indicates that there is fecal contamination happening somewhere along the waterlines.
- Minerals: The presence of minerals isn't necessarily a health concern to the animals, but they can create issues in the waterline. Minerals can build up and create narrow paths for water to flow through, reducing flow rates.
Waterline Swabs
Water samples only tell half the story; what's inside the waterlines reveals the rest. By opening the lines, whether by removing a nipple drinker or by cutting the line, it will allow access to the inside and sample the contact surface. Slime from microbes can build up over time, contaminate the water, and reduce flow rates.
Recommended tests for livestock and poultry waterline swabs:
- Total aerobic bacteria count
- Total coliforms count and/or E. coli
- Total mold count
- Total yeast count
What to consider when testing swabs:
- By testing the swab sample for total aerobic bacteria count, total mold count, and total yeast count, this will provide a clear picture of the organisms that are multiplying in the lines and could be creating slime. The slime provides a harbor for potentially pathogenic organisms, which cause harm to your livestock or poultry.
- The swab sample can also be tested for coliforms or E. coli, which will help identify the level of fecal contamination on the surface of the pipes.
Why Unmatched Expertise Matters
The real benefit of water and swab testing comes from expert interpretation. Backed by a highly experienced team, you receive more than just data, you gain actionable insights tailored to your unique needs. This is what transforms a standard report into a strategic plan for healthier livestock or poultry, and a more efficient operation.
Ready to make water testing a strategic advantage? Trust the team who knows how to turn data into results. Learn more at kemin.com/prooxine.