Body water content and water turnover of tropical Bos taurus, Bos indicus, Bibos banteng, and Bos bubalus bubalis

Abstract

The turnover of water, measured in five types of cattle, was least in the banteng during winter. The greatest rates of water turnover (848 ml/l0.82/24 hr) were among Shorthorn cows during the desert summer when feed was plentiful. In the wet tropics, however, buffalo used more water than B. taurus Shorthorns, while the B. indicus types turned over significantly less water on the same pasture. There was an increase in body water content, and a reduction in body solids, in summer relative to winter in all cattle, while the water turnover rose with increasing temperature, humidity, and food supply. After drought, Shorthorn cattle gained 40% in body weight, while increasing body water by only 4.5% as they became fat. Shorthorn steers on improved Townsville lucerne pastures during the wet season contained 48% more solids but weighed only 11% more than cattle on native vegetation, turning over greater amounts of water.