Use the table below to calculate your monthly and cumulative water requirements for sheep. The green fields can be edited to update the calculations in the table.
Sheep water requirements: Between 4-14 litres per head per day.
Stock water requirements litres/animal/day.
| Stock type | Consumption (litres/animal/day) | |
| Summer | Average daily | |
| Sheep | ||
| Weaners | 6 | 4 |
| Adult dry sheep | 10 | 6 |
| Ewes with lambs | 14 | 10 |
| Beef Cattle | ||
| Weaner (250–300 kg) | 70 | Up to 55 |
| Adult Dry stock | 112 | Up to 80 |
| Horses (grazing) | 49 | 35 |
For more information on water requirements for sheep and other livestock types refer to ‘Managing farm water supplies’
Salinity tolerance levels for stock water.
| Type of Livestock | EC (µS/cm) | Mg/L (ppm) | ||
| Beef cattle | Production decline begins* | 6,250 | 4,000 | |
| Maximum level** | 15,600 | 10,000 | ||
| Lactating ewes and weaners | Production decline begins* | 6,000 | 3,800 | |
| Maximum level** | 10,000 | 6,400 | ||
| Dry mature sheep | Production decline begins* | 9,300 | 6,000 | |
| Maximum level** | 21,800 | 14,000 |
* Production decline begins = upper limit salt concentration for healthy growth.
** Maximum = maximum salt concentration that may be safe for limited periods.
