Source: Bostanova, S., Uskenov, R., Serekpayev, N., Tretyakov, I., Önder, H., Aryn, B., & Valiyeva, M. (2025). Correlation between weather conditions and the watering cycle of beef cows in pastures. Journal of Animal Behavior and Biometeorology, 13:e2025025. https://doi.org/10.31893/jabb.2025025
Study Overview
This research analyzed the drinking cycle of Qazaq Aqbas beef cows during the grazing period in Northern Kazakhstan. The study was conducted on 91 head of cattle from July 15 to August 12, 2023, at the North Kazakhstan Agricultural Experimental Station, using an automated monitoring platform developed by scientists at Seifullin Kazakh Agrotechnical Research University.
The platform relied on ultrahigh-frequency (UHF) RFID identification to register each cow’s approach to the drinker and the duration of every drinking event in 24/7 mode, combined with archived METAR weather data (hourly temperature and humidity) from the nearest airport in Petropavlovsk.
Key Findings
- Drinking frequency: On average, cows approached the drinkers 3 times per day (2.94 ± 0.53), ranging from 1.7 times on cooler days (22.5 °C) to 4.5 times on the hottest day (25.5 °C) — the hotter the weather, the more often cattle drink.
- Daily drinking pattern: No drinking activity was observed between 22:00 and 04:00. Drinking began at 5 a.m. and continued until 9 p.m., with peaks at 4 p.m. (250 approaches) and in the early morning (200 approaches at 7–8 a.m.).
- Duration per visit: In the hottest months, with an average ambient temperature of 23.5 °C and relative humidity of 57.0%, cows spent 87.12 seconds (about 1.5 minutes) per approach to water.
- Heat stress: The temperature–humidity index (THI) of 31.5 is very low — well below the comfort threshold of 72 — meaning the beef cows did not experience heat stress during the study.
Correlations with Weather
- Ambient temperature: a moderate positive correlation (+0.45) with drinking duration — cows drink longer as temperature rises.
- Relative humidity: a moderate negative correlation (−0.60) — higher humidity shortens drinking time.
- THI: a moderate positive correlation (+0.57) — drinking time increases with heat load.
- Wind direction and speed: both had a statistically significant effect on water intake (P = 0.022 and P = 0.035). Water consumption under calm conditions was significantly greater than under most wind directions, and a nonlinear, U-shaped relationship was found with wind speed: drinking durations peaked in calm weather (0 m/s) and at high wind speeds (~16 m/s), with a minimum at moderate wind (~6 m/s).
Practical Implications
Within the framework of organic livestock production, ensuring animal welfare and achieving planned productivity of beef cattle requires organizing watering at least three times a day, with free access to clean water when the animals’ need for liquid is maximal — particularly in the morning and late-afternoon peak hours. The study confirms that wind direction and speed should be considered when siting waterers and shelters on pastures, as they significantly affect both water consumption and the duration of watering.
Conclusion
The use of an automatic RFID-based monitoring platform made it possible to accurately analyze individual drinking cycles and identify periods of heat stress. Water consumption of Qazaq Aqbas cows proved to depend on air temperature, relative humidity, and wind direction and speed, while the temperature–humidity index showed only a moderate relationship. The authors recommend further research covering the full grazing season (May–September) to improve predictive models of drinking behavior.
Keywords: beef cattle, pastures, temperature, humidity, watering
