The effects of various levels of fluorine on the digestibility of feeds

The fluorine problem in livestock feeding is one of increasing importance. Untold damage has been caused b/ the detrimental effects of fluorine. The first problem arose through the feeding of raw rock phosphate, containing from 3 to 4 percent fluorine, as a mineral supplement. The livestock fed raw rock phosphate at high levels of intake showed a decrease in appetite, and the animals gradually took on an emaciated look. The teeth of animals fed the rock phosphate become mottled and pitted.

The same symptoms were observed in cattle eating vegetation grown in the vicinity of aluminum and phosphate industries. It was found fluorine was given off from the manufacture of these materials and settled on the vegetation. This increased the fluorine problem considerably.

Work is being done at the Tennessee Experiment Station to determine at what level fluorine becomes toxic and how long it takes the toxic condition to arise. This phase of the experiment was set up to determine the effects of fluorine on the digestibility of the ration.