During cold winter months, many times ewes are maintained on extremely cold water in troughs and even sometimes on snow. Both circumstances lead to a reduced water intake. Ewes prefer and will consume larger quantities of warm water than cold.

Water intake increases by the third month of gestation, is doubled by the fifth month, and is greater for twin-bearing ewes than for ewes carrying a single fetus. It is estimated that lactating ewes require 100 percent more water than nonlactating ewes. If you ever wonder why your ewes are not milking enough, don't overlook the possibility that they're not drinking enough water because it's too cold.

Voluntary water consumption is two or three times dry matter consumption and increases with high-protein and salt-containing diets. A significant relationship exists between total water intake and dry matter intake. Ewes denied water for more than 24 hours may eat little or no dry feed. A lack of water accompanied by a severe depression in feed intake predisposes ewes to all sorts of problems, namely unthriftiness, malnutrition and, possibly, pregnancy disease in the case of multiple bearing ewes.

Ewes in drylot require about 1 to 1.5 gallons of water per day during gestation and between 2 to 3 gallons during lactation. Ewes on winter ranges will drink about .75 gallons per head per day when no snow cover is available. In late winter, when temperatures go up and the ewes are farther along in gestation, daily consumption will go up to 1.5 gallons and, if the forage is extremely dry, a ewe could consume over 2 gallons per day.

Salt is also important during the winter. Remember that if ewes are drinking cold water, they tend to self-regulate their salt intake. This is fine as long as salt is available at all times. However, sometimes we forget to check the salt and it runs out. This is when we can get into problems. After long periods without salt, ewes get hungry for salt and when it's re-introduced they can over-consume. These ewes, especially if they are drinking less water because it's cold, can become salt poisoned. Therefore, be aware of both the water your ewes are drinking and the amount of salt they are consuming. REMEMBER! Adequate intake of good-quality water is essential for ewes to excrete excess toxic substance such as oxalates, ammonia, and mineral salts.

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