Water Break

Water is the Driving Force of All Nature. - Leonardo da Vinci

You step out of the door at 5 AM and it is 83 degrees.  The humidity is so thick you 'wade' through the air.  By the time you get 5 steps in the garage, you can feel a trickle of sweat running down your back.  Ugh!  The middle of July.  We have several months of this left to go!  We're not the only ones who are affected by the oppressive heat - our animals are too.

One thing that really refreshes me on a hot day is a tall glass of cool water.  It is no different with cows.  They love to drink water after a hot day out eating grass.  I like to watch them walking in to the water trough in the evening.  They stand in front of the trough and drink it in in long, slow, gulps, swallowing it down.  You can practically watch its invigorating effect.

I read somewhere that a cow can drink about 27 gallons a day.  Lots of times I turn off the water valve and re-fill the trough with rain water, so I carry 5 gallon buckets.  I've done the math and 27 gallons per day is about right.  Once the three momma cows and the two bulls drink, they can really put a dent in the water inventory in the trough.

Sometimes it's kind of crowded at the trough, but on some days, cows can walk up and have it all to themselves.  I like the photo below as it captures Rosie shortly after she's quinched her thirst.  She is standing there enjoying the shade of the pecan trees and the nourishment of the water.

Unfortunately, she's found another way to stay cool.  She goes and finds the nearest mud hole to lie in.  She gets muddy like a pig!  Oh well, just like humans, they just want to be cooled off in the hot, summer months.