Water management in specialised beef cattle fattening farms: a survey of practices and efficiency gaps in Veneto region, Northern Italy

Beef cattle farmers are increasingly criticised for the depletion and inefficient use of water resources associated with their activities. Existing studies mainly assess water footprints or theoretical efficiency models, which are difficult to generalise across production systems and fail to capture the practical challenges farmers face. A clear understanding of on-farm water practices is essential for designing effective strategies to improve water use. This study provides the first investigation of water use and management practices in specialised beef-fattening farms located in North-East Italy, a region that accounts for approximately 30% of national beef production. A survey was developed targeting 37 beef fattening farms, collecting information on barn characteristics, general water consumption and monitoring, water for animals, for washing and other purposes, and farmers’ perception of water resources. The farms collectively housed 23035 animals distributed across 167 barns. Space and drinkers’ allowance were examined according to fattening phase, floor, and bedding. Most farms relied on wells as their primary water source, yet 78.4% could not quantify water use due to a lack of monitoring systems. Although only 13.5% had experienced water shortages once, 62.2% perceived water as a limited resource and reported adopting good practices. However, no farmers or farm operators had received specific training on water. Overall, farmers require support through farm-scale water management tools, training, and economic incentives to improve the sustainability and resilience of beef production under increasing water scarcity.