Here are a few notes about this calculator to help you understand how it works and the assumptions we made when making the calculations. All outputs from this tool are estimates - producers should consult a nutritionist for precise rations.
The tool estimates water intake from dry matter intake (DMI) using species-specific multipliers (L water per kg DM). This is a common approach in livestock nutrition because water intake correlates strongly with feed (DM) intake.
You can either let the tool compute DMI or enter a measured DMI (kg/day) if you have it.
For lactating animals, you can enter milk yield (L/day); the tool adds extra water need to support milk production (default addition ≅ 0.8 L water per L milk).
There's an ambient temperature adjustment: above 20°C the tool increases estimated water need (roughly +2% per °C) to reflect heat-driven intake increases.
Method: This tool estimates daily water need from DMI (L water per kg DM) with species-stage defaults, adjusts for lactation (additional water per L milk), and increases need with higher temperatures. Values are estimates — consult a livestock nutritionist for precise planning.
