Water

Package

Livestock suitability

Calf suitability

*Domestic suitability

Minerals only

Nitrates

*Coliform/E.coli

Price

$49.00

$56.00

$36.00

$19.50

$23.00

$30.00

Includes

Nitrate-N, pH, S, Ca, Mg, Cu, Fe, Zn, Mn, Cl, P, K, Hardness, TDS

Nitrate-N, pH, S, Ca, Mg, Fe, Zn, Na, Mn, Cl, P, K, Hardness, TDS

Coliform/E.coli, Nitrate-N, pH, Ca, Mg, Cu, Fe, Zn, Na, Mn, Cl, P, K, Hardness

S, Ca, Mg, Cu, Fe, Zn, Na, Mn, P, K, Hardness

Nitrate-N

Presence/absence only

Most probable number

For coliform and E.coli
For minerals and nitrates

Coliform and E.coli require sterile collection

1. Obtain a sterilized water kit from Dairyland Laboratories, Inc.

2. Locate a sample tap near the well, preferably not a swing, leaky, or outside faucet. (The purpose of coliform and E. coli testing is to determine if the well is contaminated.)

3. Remove any screens or aerators.

4. Sterilize metal taps by heating them with a flame. Caution: If the faucet is plastic or plastic coated, or has plastic internal parts, use a different faucet such as the sampling tap (located inside the building at the water point of entry).

5. Let the water run for several minutes. Do not change the flow rate, shut the faucet off, or wipe-wash the faucet.

6. Remove the cap from the sample bottle without touching the rim of the bottle or inside of cap.

7. Fill the bottle to the top leaving 1/4 to 1/2-inch space. Avoid splashing.

8. Keep the sample cold and return to Dairyland Laboratories, Inc.

Minerals and Nitrates

Minerals and nitrates do not require sterile collection. Sampling can be done from the point of consumption and nearly any plastic bottle will work for collection and delivery to Dairyland Laboratories, Inc.

Cattle
Calves

Cattle

Parameter	Average^a	Normal range^a (90% range)	Potentially concernable concentrations for cattle^b
pH	7.3	6.4-8.2
parts per million (ppm, or mg/liter)
Nitrates	4.6	0.2-16	see additional nitrate interpretation
Calcium	87.6	0.6-289
Magnesium	33.8	0.2-87
Potassium	8.2	0.6-27
Copper	0.14	0.01-0.11	1.3
Iron	0.76	0.003-3.48	2.0
Zinc	0.2	0.001-0.27	5.0-25.0
Sodium	97.3	2.8-428	300
Manganese	0.15	0.001-0.67	0.5
Chloride	70.6	4-235	300
Sulfate	254	3.1-1,294	1,000
Total dissolved solids (TDS)	1,250	230-3,262
Total hardness	357	2.4-1,097
Total coliform/100 ml	872	1.1-2,420

^aData source: Dairyland Laboratories Inc.
^bNASEM, 2021

Calves

Parameter	Concern
pH	<5.5 or > 8.5
parts per million (ppm)
TDS	1,000
Hardness	10.5
Calcium	2.0
Chloride	25.00
Copper	0.1
Iron	0.3
Magnesium	125
Manganese	0.05
Nitrate-N	100
Phosphorus	0.7
Potassium	20
Sodium	200
*Interpretations developed by Bob Riesberg, Land O'Lakes in collaboration with: Dr. Don Sockett, University of Wisconsin Dr. Dave Beede, Michigan State University Dr. Timothy Johnson, Purdue University Dr. Tom Earleywine, Land O'Lakes

TDS Additional Interpretation

TDS (ppm)	Comment
<1,000	Safe and should pose no health problems.
1,000-2,999	Generally safe but may cause mild, temporary diarrhea in animals not accustomed to the water.
3,000-4,999	Water may be refused when first offered to animals or cause temporary diarrhea. Animal performance may be less than optimum because water intake is not maximized.
5,000-6,999	Avoid these waters as a source of drinking water, may result in reductions in milk production.
>7,000	These waters should not be fed to cattle. Health problems and/or poor production will result.
*NASEM 2021

Nitrate Additional Interpretation

Nitrate-N mg/L	Guidelines
0-10	Safe for consumption by cattle.
10-20	Generally safe when offered with balanced diets with low nitrate feeds
20-40	May be harmful if consumed for long periods of time
>40-100	Cattle at risk of possible death
>100	Unsafe. Possible death; do not use as water source
*NASEM 2021

Water

Water testing is a proactive way to screen for problems caused by:

Packages & Prices

Sampling Instructions