Really Thirsty Dexters??

[catomell]

Hi, I wonder if anyone can help??

For some reason, my mini herd (ten of them) seem to be drinking an awful lot of water at the moment, far more so than in the summer. Now, I appreciate that they are eating hay as opposed to grass, but they seem to be drinking a hell of a lot anyway.
Also, having been running with my (unproven) bull since September, all the heifers seem to be putting on a lot of weight. Would it seem feasible that they are showing signs of being pregnant so soon??
Also, would the fact that they are perhaps in calf account for the fact that they are drinking a lot??
I do apologise for being a little bit blonde, and any and all input would be most helpful. At the moment, with no local shows to go to to pick peoples brains, I tend to get whatever information I can from this forum. I look forward to hearing back from you soon.
THanks.
Cat.

[Duncan MacIntyre]

There will be a huge difference in the quantity they will drink on wet grass and dry hay. Even wet and dry weather makes a lot of difference, I have to carry all the water to my herd in summer and if it is wet weather 8 cattle of mixed ages and sexes will drink almost nothing. Then if it dries up in a day or two they can be drinking 20 or 30 gallons between them. Cows suckling calves do drink a great deal more simply because they require it to allow milk production. As long as there is no sign of ill health such as scouring (diarrhoea) it is probably just the change of diet. A high proportion of hay in the diet does also give them a bigger belly.

Duncan