Effect of Alkali Water on Dairy Cows

While alkali water is not general in South Dakota, it is prevalent in certain sections of the. Semi-arid portions of the state. In some places the water is so charged with soluble minerals that it has been a question whether cows and other stock could drink it without being injured. In some of these sections the cows became \u27\u27alkalied.\u27\u27 By many this disease was laid to drinking the alkali water. In a previous bulletin (Bul. 132) the results of the experiments on the effects of alkali water on dairy products are reported. The effects of this kind of water on cows are reported in this bulletin. The experiment was conducted chiefly with two purposes in view: First, to find out whether strong alkali water would produce the so-called \u27\u27 alkali disease;\u27\u27 and second, to find how the excess of minerals in the alkali water was eliminated from the cow\u27s body