Water Wheel Nov/Dec 2023: Water And Agriculture

Abstract

How much water does a milk cow need? Study looks to save water in dairy industry Milk production is the fourth largest agricultural sector in South Africa. In 2019/20, about 3.427 million tons of milk were produced, mostly on farms distributed around our coastal areas where mild temperatures and good rainfall provide quality pastures. The bulk of water on dairy farms is used for irrigation, as pastures for livestock feed need supplementary water when there is not enough rain. Of the estimated 160 litres of water used to produce a litre of milk, around 135 litres are for irrigation (the rest are for the animals themselves and to wash facilities and equipment). Consideringn the total amount of milk produced, the sector uses a substantial amount of water each year – well over 3 billion litres (according to the mentioned total tons produced in 2019/20), roughly what 20 million people use daily. A study by Trace and Save and the WWF-SA analysed water use efficiency and irrigation efficiency on pasture-based dairy farms in South Africa.

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