Water is the most important nutrient for pigs and often the most overlooked when it comes to quality. Pipestone Research conducted a study to evaluate how water source impacts pig performance, comparing rural water and well water from the nursery phase through finishing. In this study, pigs were assigned to one of four water programs:
- Rural in Nursery to Rural in Finish
- Rural in Nursery to Well in Finish
- Well in Nursery to Well in Finish
- Well in Nursery to Rural in Finish
The well water included in this study contained high levels of sulfates and total dissolved solids (TDS), both of which are known to negatively impact intake and performance.
During the nursery phase, pigs receiving rural water consistently demonstrated improved performance. These pigs had higher average daily gain, greater feed intake, and better feed efficiency compared to pigs receiving well water. These findings align with previous research trials conducted by Pipestone Research, reinforcing the importance of water quality early in a pig’s life.
When performance was evaluated across the full wean-to-finish period, the differences between water treatments became even more evident. Pigs maintained on rural water from start to finish showed the greatest overall performance, including higher growth rates, improved feed efficiency, and lower mortality. In contrast, pigs receiving well water throughout the entire period had the lowest performance outcomes. Pigs that started on well water and were switched to rural water showed improvement in feed efficiency compared to those switched from rural to well water, indicating that improving water quality later can help, but does not fully offset early disadvantages.
These results highlight that water quality plays a direct role in pig performance, affecting not only growth and feed efficiency but also survivability and overall economic return. Providing consistent access to high-quality water throughout the production cycle yields the best results. If that is not feasible, prioritizing high-quality water during the nursery phase is critical, as early performance sets the foundation for the rest of the pig’s growth period.
Producers should routinely evaluate their water quality, including testing for sulfates and total dissolved solids, and monitor for variation across sites or seasons. In situations where water quality is compromised, exploring treatment or mitigation strategies may provide an opportunity to improve performance and profitability.
Take Away
Consistent access to clean, high-quality water from wean-to-finish delivers the best production and economic outcomes. When improvements cannot be made across all phases, focusing on water quality in the nursery will have the greatest impact.
