Water used in the grass fed industry
Australia's unpredictable rain patterns and extended periods of drought mean that water management is essential for the livestock industry. Australia's livestock industry is working hard to effectively manage the water available to it by implementing water efficient grazing practices.
Water used to raise Australian livestock is generally not diverted water. In other words it is not being taken away from human or other use. In the majority of Australia's production systems cattle and sheep drink from water that falls on the property in dams and river systems, rather than relying on irrigated or town water supply.
Through grazing management strategies, farmers manage the frequency and intensity of grazing to make the best use of the pastures, balancing the needs of the grazing animal, the pasture and the environment.
Essential resource
Water used for drinking and servicing animals is the most obvious demand for water related to on farm livestock production. Water represents 60 to 70 percent of body weight and is essential for animals in maintaining their physiological function.
Water management
Cattle and sheep farmers can do many things to influence the water balance in their grazing systems. Healthy soils and adequate nutrients are two of the basic elements of any successful grazing system. Healthy soil drives higher pasture productivity as well as benefits for the environment through greater use of water and nutrients in the paddock and less risk of run-off, erosion and deep drainage.
How much water is used?
According to a 2009 University of New South Wales red meat production life cycle assessment (LCA), it takes between 103 and 540 litres of water to produce a kilogram of red meat. This is the first comprehensive LCA undertaken on Australian beef and lamb, with further LCA's currently underway in order to gain a better understanding of the amount of water required to produce a kilogram of meat, including the water the animal drinks, animal cleaning and the water used during processing.