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Drinking water quality affects animal health and performance. These quality ratings and analytical ranges below are appropriate for livestock types including beef cattle and dairy cattle. The information was gathered and compiled from many public resources. Comments and interpretations for the ratings can be found in Crop File 6.05.101, "Livestock Water Quality - General Ratings"
¶ Water Quality Ratings: Swine, Poultry, Horses, & Sheep |
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| Livestock type: | Mature swine (hogs) |
Young swine (pigs) |
Poultry | Horses | Sheep, goats |
| Rating | ---------- Calcium, Ca mg/L ---------- | ||||
| Excellent | < 50 | < 30 | < 20 | < 50 | < 50 |
| Good | 50 - 100 | 30 - 60 | 20 - 40 | 50 - 100 | 50 - 100 |
| Fair | 100 - 200 | 60 - 120 | 40 - 100 | 100 - 200 | 100 - 200 |
| Poor | 200 - 400 | 120 - 240 | 100 - 200 | 200 - 400 | 200 - 400 |
| Very poor | 400 - 500 | 240 - 480 | 200 - 400 | 400 - 500 | 400 - 500 |
| Extremely poor | > 500 | > 480 | > 400 | > 500 | > 500 |
| Rating | ---------- Chloride, Cl mg/L ---------- | ||||
| Excellent | < 35 | < 15 | < 10 | < 35 | < 35 |
| Good | 35 - 65 | 15 - 35 | 10 - 20 | 35 - 65 | 35 - 115 |
| Fair | 65 - 130 | 35 - 70 | 20 - 35 | 65 - 130 | 115 - 225 |
| Poor | 130 - 175 | 70 - 90 | 35 - 55 | 130 - 170 | 225 - 375 |
| Very poor | 175 - 255 | 90 - 110 | 55 - 75 | 170 - 210 | 375 - 450 |
| Extremely poor | > 225 | > 110 | > 75 | > 210 | > 450 |
| Rating | ---------- Electrical conductivity, EC mmho/cm ---------- | ||||
| Excellent | < 4.50 | < 0.70 | < 0.30 | < 4.50 | < 1.50 |
| Good | 1.50 - 2.75 | 0.70 - 1.40 | 0.30 - 0.65 | 1.50 - 2.75 | 1.50 - 4.50 |
| Fair | 5.75 - 5.50 | 1.40 - 2.80 | 0.65 - 1.25 | 5.75 - 5.50 | 4.50 - 9.50 |
| Poor | 5.50 - 7.00 | 2.80 - 3.20 | 1.25 - 2.50 | 5.50 - 7.00 | 9.50 - 14.00 |
| Very poor | 7.00 - 9.50 | 3.20 - 4.20 | 2.50 - 4.75 | 7.00 - 9.50 | 14.00 - 18.00 |
| Extremely poor | > 9.50 | > 4.20 | > 4.75 | > 9.50 | > 18.00 |
| Rating | ---------- Hardness, CaCO3 mg/L ---------- | ||||
| Excellent | < 60 | < 60 | < 60 | < 60 | < 60 |
| Good | 60 - 120 | 60 - 120 | 60 - 120 | 60 - 120 | 60 - 120 |
| Fair | 120 - 180 | 120 - 180 | 120 - 180 | 120 - 180 | 120 - 180 |
| Poor | 180 - 270 | 180 - 270 | 180 - 270 | 180 - 270 | 180 - 270 |
| Very poor | 270 - 400 | 270 - 400 | 270 - 400 | 270 - 400 | 270 - 400 |
| Extremely poor | > 400 | > 400 | > 400 | > 400 | > 400 |
| Rating | ---------- Hardness, CaCO3 grains per gallon ---------- | ||||
| Excellent | < 3.5 | < 3.5 | < 3.5 | < 3.5 | < 3.5 |
| Good | 3.5 - 7.0 | 3.5 - 7.0 | 3.5 - 7.0 | 3.5 - 7.0 | 3.5 - 7.0 |
| Fair | 7.0 - 10.5 | 7.0 - 10.5 | 7.0 - 10.5 | 7.0 - 10.5 | 7.0 - 10.5 |
| Poor | 10.5 - 16.0 | 10.5 - 16.0 | 10.5 - 16.0 | 10.5 - 16.0 | 10.5 - 16.0 |
| Very poor | 16.0 - 23.5 | 16.0 - 23.5 | 16.0 - 23.5 | 16.0 - 23.5 | 16.0 - 23.5 |
| Extremely poor | > 23.5 | > 23.5 | > 23.5 | > 23.5 | > 23.5 |
| Rating | ---------- Iron, Fe mg/L ---------- | ||||
| Excellent | < 0.1 | < 0.1 | < 0.1 | < 0.1 | < 0.1 |
| Good | 0.1 - 0.2 | 0.1 - 0.2 | 0.1 - 0.2 | 0.1 - 0.2 | 0.1 - 0.2 |
| Fair | 0.2 - 0.4 | 0.2 - 0.4 | 0.2 - 0.4 | 0.2 - 0.4 | 0.2 - 0.4 |
| Poor | 0.4 - 0.8 | 0.4 - 0.8 | 0.4 - 0.8 | 0.4 - 0.8 | 0.4 - 0.8 |
| Very poor | 0.8 - 1.2 | 0.8 - 1.2 | 0.8 - 1.2 | 0.8 - 1.2 | 0.8 - 1.2 |
| Extremely poor | > 1.2 | > 1.2 | > 1.2 | > 1.2 | > 1.2 |
| Rating | ---------- Magnesium, Mg mg/L ---------- | ||||
| Excellent | < 15 | < 15 | < 30 | < 25 | < 25 |
| Good | 15 - 30 | 15 - 30 | 30 - 60 | 25 - 50 | 25 - 50 |
| Fair | 30 - 60 | 30 - 60 | 60 - 90 | 50 - 120 | 50 - 120 |
| Poor | 60 - 120 | 60 - 100 | 90 - 120 | 120 - 250 | 120 - 250 |
| Very poor | 120 - 240 | 100 - 180 | 120 - 180 | 250 - 500 | 250 - 500 |
| Extremely poor | . 240 | > 180 | > 180 | > 500 | > 500 |
| Rating | ---------- Manganese, Mn mg/L ---------- | ||||
| Excellent | < 0.010 | < 0.010 | < 0.010 | < 0.010 | < 0.010 |
| Good | 0.010 - 0.025 | 0.010 - 0.025 | 0.010 - 0.025 | 0.010 - 0.025 | 0.010 - 0.025 |
| Fair | 0.025 - 0.050 | 0.025 - 0.050 | 0.025 - 0.050 | 0.025 - 0.050 | 0.025 - 0.050 |
| Poor | 0.050 - 0.075 | 0.050 - 0.075 | 0.050 - 0.075 | 0.050 - 0.075 | 0.050 - 0.075 |
| Very poor | 0.075 - 0.150 | 0.075 - 0.150 | 0.075 - 0.150 | 0.075 - 0.150 | 0.075 - 0.150 |
| Extremely poor | > 0.150 | > 0.150 | > 0.150 | > 0.150 | > 0.150 |
| Rating | ---------- Nitrate-nitrogen, NO 3 -N mg/L ---------- | ||||
| Excellent | < 10 | < 10 | < 10 | < 10 | < 10 |
| Good | 10 - 20 | 10 - 20 | 10 - 20 | 10 - 20 | 10 - 30 |
| Fair | 20 - 50 | 20 - 40 | 20 - 40 | 20 - 50 | 30 - 70 |
| Poor | 50 - 80 | 40 - 60 | 40 - 60 | 50 - 80 | 70 - 100 |
| Very poor | 80 - 200 | 60 - 150 | 60 - 150 | 80 - 200 | 100 - 300 |
| Extremely poor | >200 | > 150 | > 150 | >200 | > 300 |
| Rating | ---------- pH ---------- | ||||
| Acidic | < 5.5 | < 5.5 | < 5.5 | < 5.5 | < 5.5 |
| Moderately acidic | 5.5 - 6.5 | 5.5 - 6.5 | 5.5 - 6.5 | 5.5 - 6.5 | 5.5 - 6.5 |
| Neutral | 6.5 - 7.5 | 6.5 - 7.5 | 6.5 - 7.5 | 6.5 - 7.5 | 6.5 - 7.5 |
| Moderately alkaline | 7.5 - 8.5 | 7.5 - 8.5 | 7.5 - 8.5 | 7.5 - 8.5 | 7.5 - 8.5 |
| Alkaline | > 8.5 | > 8.5 | > 8.5 | > 8.5 | > 8.5 |
| Rating | ---------- Potassium, K mg/L ---------- | ||||
| Excellent | < 20 | < 10 | < 10 | < 25 | < 25 |
| Good | 20 - 40 | 10 - 25 | 10 -25 | 25- 50 | 25- 50 |
| Fair | 40 - 80 | 25 - 50 | 25 - 35 | 50 - 100 | 50 - 100 |
| Poor | 80 - 160 | 50 - 100 | 35 - 45 | 100 - 200 | 100 - 200 |
| Very poor | 160 - 240 | 100 - 150 | 45 - 60 | 200 - 300 | 200 - 300 |
| Extremely poor | > 240 | > 150 | > 60 | > 300 | > 300 |
| Rating | ---------- Sodium, Na mg/L ---------- | ||||
| Excellent | < 20 | < 25 | < 15 | < 25 | < 50 |
| Good | 20 - 50 | 25 - 50 | 15 - 30 | 25 - 75 | 50 - 100 |
| Fair | 50 - 100 | 50 - 100 | 30 - 45 | 75 - 150 | 100 - 200 |
| Poor | 100 - 200 | 100 - 150 | 45 - 60 | 150 - 300 | 200 - 400 |
| Very poor | 200 - 350 | 150 - 250 | 60 - 75 | 300 - 500 | 400 - 600 |
| Extremely poor | > 350 | > 250 | > 75 | > 500 | > 600 |
| Rating | ---------- Sulfate-sulfur, SO 4 -S mg/L ---------- | ||||
| Excellent | < 85 | < 35 | < 20 | < 100 | < 100 |
| Good | 85 - 150 | 35 - 70 | 20 - 40 | 100 - 240 | 100 - 240 |
| Fair | 150 - 400 | 70 - 135 | 40 - 80 | 240 - 400 | 240 - 500 |
| Poor | 400 - 835 | 135 - 330 | 80 - 160 | 400 - 1000 | 500 - 1200 |
| Very poor | 835 - 1500 | 330 - 670 | 160 - 280 | 1000 - 1350 | 1200 - 1500 |
| Extremely poor | > 1500 | > 670 | > 280 | > 1350 | > 1500 |
| Rating | ---------- Sulfate, SO 4 mg/L ---------- | ||||
| Excellent | < 250 | < 100 | < 60 | < 300 | < 300 |
| Good | 250 - 450 | 100- 200 | 60 - 120 | 300 - 700 | 300 - 700 |
| Fair | 450 - 1200 | 200 - 400 | 120- 240 | 700 - 1200 | 700 - 15000 |
| Poor | 1200 - 2500 | 400 - 1000 | 240 - 480 | 1200 - 3000 | 1500 - 3500 |
| Very poor | 2500 - 4500 | 1000 - 2000 | 480 - 840 | 3000 - 4000 | 3500 - 4500 |
| Extremely poor | > 4500 | > 2000 | > 840 | > 4000 | > 4500 |
| Rating | ---------- Total Dissolved Solids, TDS mg/l ---------- | ||||
| Excellent | < 1000 | < 450 | < 200 | < 1000 | < 1000 |
| Good | 1000 - 1750 | 450 - 900 | 200 - 400 | 1000 - 1750 | 1000 - 3000 |
| Fair | 1750 - 3500 | 900 - 1800 | 400 - 800 | 1750 - 3500 | 3000 - 6000 |
| Poor | 3500 - 4500 | 1800 - 2100 | 800 - 1600 | 3500 - 4500 | 6000 - 9000 |
| Very poor | 4500 - 6000 | 2100 - 2700 | 1600 - 3000 | 4500 - 6000 | 9000 - 12000 |
| Extremely poor | > 6000 | > 2700 | > 3000 | > 6000 | > 12000 |
| Rating | ---------- Turbidity, NTU ---------- | ||||
| Extremely low | <= 1 | <= 1 | <= 1 | <= 1 | <= 1 |
| Very low | 1 - 5 | 1 - 5 | 1 - 5 | 1 - 5 | 1 - 5 |
| Low | 5 - 20 | 5 - 20 | 5 - 20 | 5 - 20 | 5 - 20 |
| Moderate | 20 - 50 | 20 - 50 | 20 - 50 | 20 - 50 | 20 - 50 |
| High | > 50 | > 50 | > 50 | > 50 | > 50 |