Various effects of high levels of flourine ingested as sodium fluoride on pregnant beef heifers

Fluocrosls has commonly been defined as the chronic poisoning from fluorine. A more suitable definition might be: a condition resulting from ingestion of fluorine above normal levels of intake in sufficient mmmints to be detrimental to the animal.

Because it is very active chemically fluorine does not occur in a free state in nature but in combination with other elements.

The problem of fluorosis in livestock is one of considerable concern. Untold damage has been cleansed by the detrimental effects of fluorine. One of the first difficulties arose from the feeding of raw rock phosphate which contains three to four percent fluorine as a source of minerals for cattle. The ram rock phosphate when fed in large amounts caused the cattle to show loss of weight, loss of appetite, and in some cases the teeth of these animals became mottled and pitted.

Cattle grazing on vegetation located near aluminum and phosphate industries where fluorine is being emitted developed similar symptoms. Evidence of fluorosis has been reported from areas where animals ingested water with high fluorine content.

Research is being carried on at the Tennessee Experiment Station to determine at what levels fluorine becomes toxic and how long it takes to produce the toxic condition in cattle. This phase of the experiment was studied to determine the effects of feeding various high levels of fluorine to pregnant beef heifers.