Adequate water provision is a fundamental welfare requirement for all animals. Thirst causes significant suffering and is a more prevalent problem in livestock than commonly recognized.
Water is the most basic welfare requirement after air. Thirst causes suffering that scales with duration and severity. Despite being fundamental, water provision failures are found repeatedly in farm welfare inspections. The welfare solution is straightforward: adequate, clean water available at all times for all housed animals. The economic case aligns with the welfare case — dehydrated animals produce less and are more susceptible to disease. Better water provision is a rare case where welfare and productivity interests directly converge.