Keep water besides you during food intake but take after 15-30 mins later for monogastric . for ruminants as they consume lot of roughage water consumption will be dependnt on the type of food they consumed. Moreover the requirement of water will depend on climate and perspiration as water loss has to be compenasted mostly through enteric route. I dont think there will a universal rule for water consumption due to these reasons.

human and ruminants are different. In ruminants rumen fermention takes place and we have make most favourable condition for better fermentation/digestion. saiva is very important as it helps in balancing the pH. In human for better digestion and better mixing of saliva with food , proper chewing and mixing of saiva is important. During food consumption more water should not be consumed, only sips of water to facilitate the smooth food passing may be taken if required. Water may be consumed after one hour after food consumption. If liquid food items are sufficient in lunch or dinner then no need of any sips of water. This is the advised in Ayurveda.  Slowly and gradually is always recommended for no interuption of digestion process which on. Ph and concentration of enzyme in digesta has greator role.

If it will not follow VATA DOSH may occur, whic is the root cause of around 50% diseases.

I agree with Dr VB Chaturvedi. But nothing mentioned on ruminants.

Thank you Gandhidas Lavekar and Vishwa Bandhu Chaturvedi sir. However, if more clear answer in quantifiable terms we can get, that will be better. What about consumption of greens or meat; what should be our choice of water quantity in each time

My experimental observations with both monogastrics and ruminants indicate that access to water is very important, but this varies with the dry matter content of the food or feed consumed. Dry foods/feeds must be accompanied by access to water; otherwise, food/feed intake declines quickly. High moisture diets do not require access to water immediately, but may stimulate need for water afterward, depending on their composition. Cattle grazing lush, spring pastures do not need much water, but cattle grazing dry pastures or consuming hay need much more. Similarly, monogastrics will reduce food/feed intake if their water is restricted. If one looks at the GI tract, it is "wet" and absorbs and recycles excess water. In ruminants, digestibility of the feed is increased with slow passage and decreased with fast passage. Passage is affected more by % of fiber in the diet and especially by % of undigestible fiber than it is with water. Nevertheless, if the total feed intake has a moisture level of less than 40% or so, then water becomes critical. I believe the best approach is to allow voluntary water intake whenever the animal (including humans) senses that they need more water. Drink up!

I totally agree with Professor Jack Haiden Britt. Compared to monogastrics, ruminants consume generally large quantities of drinking water, about 3 to 5 units per a unit of dry mater ingested. Ruminants also use "metabolic water" obtained by lipids, proteins and carbohydrates oxidation. However, the proportions of this category of water are negligible compared to those ingested. The needs of drinking water in ruminants depend on animal species, activity, environmental conditions (ambient temperature, humidity) and several physiological factors, such as age, physiological status (eg. Gestation, lactation),  milk production and many other variables. According to my current work on the effect of the quality and quantity of drinking water on small ruminant, the water quality could influences, to a large degree, the quantity of water consumed.

A really nice explanation was provided by Professor Jack Haiden Britt and supplemented by Ibrahim Yousfi. Thank you both for your insights into this matter. I hope now we really gathering good insights into this matter. In feeding protein rich diet basically meat protein, I think it needs more water and energy to be digested and also the pH of gastric juice is also lower than that of other diets. Here voluntary water intake is also important. I myself feel thirstier and drink more and more quantity water after 30 minutes of intake and thereafter also many times. Is the gastric pH is achieved immediately (within how much time) after we take food and if i drink more water at that time (which I have developed a habit) will dilute the gastric pH or enzymes or the secretion is slowly filling stomach after intake is complete and water intake of that time has not much effect as the excess water is absorbed into the body (?????) or we need only enough water to assist digestion and assimilation processes. Kindly clarify the exact mechanism of water- food -secretion interrelationship. This has been within me for years together as what is the exact timing  (though our diets differ and so also dry matter content) or if there exists any nice review or literature on this aspect kindly let me know. Thanking you all 

Free access to clean fresh water is what your animals need. The explanation provided by Mr. Haiden Britt is simple and  bright.

As mentioned above  by dear researchers that many factors affect voluntary water intake of ruminants like: water availability and quality, dry matter intake, presence of salt in water and or feeds, NDF% of feeds, R:C ratio,.... and so on. but in some cases you my found the opposite as in my work on the effect of different R:C ratios I found that more free water intake increased with high concentrate ratio which may due to animal adaptation and or high water holding capacity in roughage diet. But in conclusion water should be available to the animals all the time.

I agree with Ibraham Yousfi that QUALITY of water is very important. Animals and humans need clean, safe water to be healthy. Water contaminants may decrease consumption, alter the animal's mineral balance or include toxic compounds that affect health. In natural habitats, animals prefer clear, running water in streams. High levels of minerals, such as iron, sulfur or sodium, can alter biological systems in the animal. Contaminants such as fertilizers or pesticides can affect consumption and affect liver or kidney function. Also, it is important to have adequate SPACE for animals to consume water if they are competing at watering troughs or at stream sites. Dairy ruminants prefer to consume water just after they have been milked, so they need access to water after milking. Non-ruminant animals like to have access to water while eating a meal, so limiting water will limit feed intake. Nursing animals also need access to water because they must adapt to water consumption before weaning. I hope these concepts are useful to all.

I also agree with Professor Jack Haiden Britt. Water consumption is governed by many interrelated factors like feed components, environmental factors, water quality, animal behavior and physiological status. The anatomical and histological differences in the digestive systems of monogastric animals and ruminants add to this complication.

Regards

SM Najim

Many thanks to Professor Jack Haiden Britt for giving a comprehensive view on water intake.

Regards

RK Mohanta