Testing drinking water for livestock is an important step for diagnosing problems related to water quality that could limit productivity and profitability. It is not uncommon for aesthetic problems, such as odors and tastes, to cause water intake in livestock to drop. This, in turn, can reduce productivity. Less frequently, bacterial contamination can adversely affect animal health.
Livestock Water Test Packages
Two test packages are available. The Basic Livestock Water Package includes essential tests for assessing livestock drinking water quality. The Basic Livestock Water Package Plus Bacteria includes tests from the basic package plus tests for total coliform bacteria and E. Coli. For total coliform bacteria and E. Coli, the water must reach the lab within 30 hours of sampling and by Thursday of any given week. The lab cannot accept samples for bacteria testing on a Friday.
Service Fees
| Service | Includes the following: | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Basic Livestock Water Package | pH, total dissolved solids, nitrate-nitrogen, calcium, copper, iron, manganese, magnesium, sodium, chloride, sulfate and hardness | $50.00 |
| Basic Livestock Water Package Plus Bacteria | pH, total dissolved solids, nitrate-nitrogen, calcium, copper, iron, manganese, magnesium, sodium, chloride, sulfate, hardness, plus total coliform bacteria and E. Coli | $75.00 |
Submitting Your Sample
To submit a livestock drinking water sample to the laboratory, you should first obtain a free sample mailer, available from the laboratory or from many county offices of Penn State Extension. Payment must be submitted with sample.
PDF document, 159.0 KB
This fact sheet describes some of the common pollutants found in water supplies in Pennsylvania and their potential effect on dairy cows.
Ag Analytical Services Lab
Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM
- Email aaslab@psu.edu
- Office 814-863-0841
- Fax 814-863-4540
Ag Analytical Services Lab
Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM
- Email aaslab@psu.edu
- Office 814-863-0841
- Fax 814-863-4540
