The effects of different levels of flourine intake on digestibility and mineral balance in beef cows

Fluorine as a factor in livestock feeding has received much attention. More recent problems in fluorine toxicity have arisen in the vicinity of plants processing phosphite fertilizer and aluminum.In these areas fluorine may be emitted from the processing operation and settle on vegetation. Farm animals consuming vegetation containing large amounts of fluorine may develop fluorosis. When these experiments were first being designed to study the effects of controlled fluoride feeding, the problem arose as to the source and form fluoride to be used. Raw rock phosphate, calcium fluoride, cryolite, and sodium fluoride are some of the compounds that have been used in these experiments. Varying results have been obtained by research workers as to the toxicity produced from the same levels of fluorine intake from these different sources of fluorides. The results of feeding sodium fluoride, rock phosphate and cryolite will be discussed in this thesis.

Work is being conducted at the Tennessee Agricultural Experiment Station to determine the toxic level of fluorine to cattle and the period of time required for the toxic condition to develop. The particular experiment described in this thesis pertains to the effect of different levels of fluorine intake on digestibility and mineral balance in beef cows.