Increased livestock weight gain from improved water quality in farm dams: A cost-benefit analysis.

ABSTRACT: Access to water is a critical aspect of livestock production, although the relationship between livestock weight gain and water quality remains poorly understood. Previous work has shown that water quality of poorly managed farm dams can be improved by fencing and constructing hardened watering points to limit stock access to the dam, and revegetation to filter contaminant inflow. Here we use cattle weight gain data from three North American studies to develop a cost-benefit analysis for the renovation of farm dams to improve water quality and, in turn, promote cattle weight gain on farms in south-eastern Australia. Our analysis indicated a strong likelihood of positive results and suggested there may be substantial net economic benefit from renovating dams in poor condition to improve wat

SUBMITTER: Dobes L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8366965 | biostudies-literature | 2021

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature