Water Management in Livestock: Are farmers prepared?

The various threats to the availability of water in quantity and quality for the use of animal production raise the question, are we hydrically prepared? The concept of “hydrically prepared” inserts that:

• We recognize water as a finite natural resource as such it must be managed using all practices and technologies that promote efficient use;
• We understand that water is a factor of local scope, available in a water basin and availability is made compatible with the different demands;
• We have the training to manage water in an animal production system in its three dimensions: feed, input, and natural resources;
• We decide to consider all productive and economic aspects, as well as water and other environmental ones, to promote viable production systems in the environmental, social, and economic dimensions.

I believe that we are partially “hydrically prepared” because within Recognize, Understand, Dispose, and Decide (REDD) there are still many things that we are not practicing, such as measuring water consumption in production systems or assessing water quality that we are using.

How can we handle something we don't know about? If water is essential, measuring its consumption is fundamental, as we know how we use and consume is the first step to propose interventions and make its use more efficient.

The internalization of REDD will give us information to generate knowledge and answers, enabling us to show society that we can produce animal protein with water efficiency and conservation of natural resources.

It should be noted that if only one actor or a few actors in the production chain internalize REDD in their day-to-day activities, water advances will be slower, demanding more time and effort. Fast advances will occur if all actors, from suppliers, through producers and their associations, to agroindustries and product distributors, internalize REDD. With this, we will have answers for society more quickly, promoting better water management.