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Availability of fallout /sup 137/Cs to dairy cattle from different types of feed

Journal Article · · J. Dairy Sci.; (United States)

The metabolism of fallout /sup 137/Cs contained in dairy cattle feeds was studied with high-producing diary cows. The transfer coefficient (/sup 137/Cs secreted daily per liter of milk as a percentage of total daily /sup 137/Cs intake) for individual cows ranged from 0.25 to 0.72 and was found to be closely related to the crude fiber content of the diet. The correlation coefficient between transfer coefficient and crude fiber intake for five cows was -0.66. The average percentage of dietary /sup 137/Cs found in milk, urine, and feces of three cows was 7.4, 13.5, and 81.5. Reports from the literature utilizing tracer doses of radioactive cesium have found about 1.0% of the dose per liter of milk and approximately equal amounts excreted in urine and feces. The results reported here suggest that fallout /sup 137/Cs in dairy cattle feeds is considerably less available than suggested by studies with tracers.

Research Organization:
Colorado State Univ., Fort Collins
OSTI ID:
6501801
Journal Information:
J. Dairy Sci.; (United States), Journal Name: J. Dairy Sci.; (United States) Vol. 48; ISSN JDSCA
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English