Livestock water use is water associated with livestock watering, feedlots, dairy operations, and other on-farm needs.
Livestock water use is water associated with livestock watering, feedlots, dairy operations, and other on-farm needs. Livestock includes dairy cows and heifers, beef cattle and calves, sheep and lambs, goats, hogs and pigs, horses, and poultry. Other livestock water uses include cooling of facilities for the animals and products, dairy sanitation and wash down of facilities, animal waste-disposal systems, and incidental water losses. The livestock category excludes on-farm domestic use, lawn and garden watering, and irrigation water use, which are included on the domestic self-supply or public supply pages and the irrigation page, respectively.
2022 Water Use
In 2022, about 1,887 million gallons per day (mgd) of water were withdrawn for livestock across the 50 United States, including Alaska and Hawaii (Houston et al., 2026).
- In the lower 48 states, the Midwest hydrologic region withdrew the most at about 339 mgd (18%), followed by Southern High Plains at about 271 mgd (14.4%). The southeast region used the least with about 6 mgd (0.3%).
- Estimates for areas outside the lower 48 states were also reported:
- Alaska withdrew about 0.1 mgd (<0.01%) and the Hawaiian Islands withdrew about 1.5 mgd (0.1%)
Estimating Livestock Water Use
Few state agencies require livestock operations to report water withdrawals; therefore, most estimates of livestock withdrawals are derived using animal population data and water-use coefficients, in gallons per head per day for each animal type. Animal population data generally are available from State agricultural agencies and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Agricultural Statistics Service. Water-use coefficients are the average amount of water used by an animal per day. Coefficients varied by state and, for many states, are provided by agricultural extension agents or water-permitting agencies. Coefficients may reflect facility maintenance needs and effects of climate on animal watering. Estimates of 2022 livestock withdrawals were developed according to the methods described by Lovelace (2009), whereas estimates of 2015 livestock withdrawals were developed using state-provided withdrawal data and, when such data were unavailable, the methods described by Lovelace (2009).
Continued development is underway to estimate livestock water use and consumptive use for 2025 onward.
Accounting of livestock water use by the USGS has changed over time. View Changes in Water Use Categories to learn more.
Water use in the United States
Accessing water use data
Thermoelectric power water use
Public Supply water use
Irrigation water use
Domestic self-supply water use
Industrial water use
Mining water use
Aquaculture water use
Below are links for other categories of water use.
Water Use in the United States
Mining Water Use
Aquaculture Water Use
Accessing Water Use Data
Domestic Self-Supplied Water Use
Public Supply Water Use
Thermoelectric Power Water Use
Irrigation Water Use
Industrial Water Use
Livestock water use is water associated with livestock watering, feedlots, dairy operations, and other on-farm needs.
Livestock water use is water associated with livestock watering, feedlots, dairy operations, and other on-farm needs. Livestock includes dairy cows and heifers, beef cattle and calves, sheep and lambs, goats, hogs and pigs, horses, and poultry. Other livestock water uses include cooling of facilities for the animals and products, dairy sanitation and wash down of facilities, animal waste-disposal systems, and incidental water losses. The livestock category excludes on-farm domestic use, lawn and garden watering, and irrigation water use, which are included on the domestic self-supply or public supply pages and the irrigation page, respectively.
2022 Water Use
In 2022, about 1,887 million gallons per day (mgd) of water were withdrawn for livestock across the 50 United States, including Alaska and Hawaii (Houston et al., 2026).
- In the lower 48 states, the Midwest hydrologic region withdrew the most at about 339 mgd (18%), followed by Southern High Plains at about 271 mgd (14.4%). The southeast region used the least with about 6 mgd (0.3%).
- Estimates for areas outside the lower 48 states were also reported:
- Alaska withdrew about 0.1 mgd (<0.01%) and the Hawaiian Islands withdrew about 1.5 mgd (0.1%)
Estimating Livestock Water Use
Few state agencies require livestock operations to report water withdrawals; therefore, most estimates of livestock withdrawals are derived using animal population data and water-use coefficients, in gallons per head per day for each animal type. Animal population data generally are available from State agricultural agencies and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Agricultural Statistics Service. Water-use coefficients are the average amount of water used by an animal per day. Coefficients varied by state and, for many states, are provided by agricultural extension agents or water-permitting agencies. Coefficients may reflect facility maintenance needs and effects of climate on animal watering. Estimates of 2022 livestock withdrawals were developed according to the methods described by Lovelace (2009), whereas estimates of 2015 livestock withdrawals were developed using state-provided withdrawal data and, when such data were unavailable, the methods described by Lovelace (2009).
Continued development is underway to estimate livestock water use and consumptive use for 2025 onward.
Accounting of livestock water use by the USGS has changed over time. View Changes in Water Use Categories to learn more.
Water use in the United States
Accessing water use data
Thermoelectric power water use
Public Supply water use
Irrigation water use
Domestic self-supply water use
Industrial water use
Mining water use
Aquaculture water use
Below are links for other categories of water use.
Water Use in the United States
Mining Water Use
Aquaculture Water Use
Accessing Water Use Data
Domestic Self-Supplied Water Use
Public Supply Water Use
Thermoelectric Power Water Use
Irrigation Water Use