New Zealand Journal of Agricultural Research abstracts
Ingestion of soil fluorine: its impact on the fluorine metabolism and
status of grazing young sheep
N. D. Grace
AgResearch Limited
Grasslands Research Centre
Private Bag 11 008
Palmerston North, New Zealand
email: neville.grace@agresearch.co.nz
P. Loganathan
M. J. Hedley
G. C. Wallace
Fertilizer and Lime Research Centre
Institute of Natural Resources
Massey University
Private Bag 11 222
Palmerston North, New Zealand
Abstract When young sheep ingested soil fluorine (F) at moderate
to high rates (69–184 mg F day–1 for 63 days) the apparent
absorption of F ranged from 44 to 53%, while apparent retention of F ranged from
28
to 42%. The respective values for ingestion of sodium fluoride (NaF) at 69
mg F day–1 were 69% and 39–45%. Increasing F intakes had
little effect on kidney and liver F concentrations, but markedly increased the
bone
F concentrations in the sheep fed NaF or soil with high levels of F. Further,
serum F concentration and the rate of F accumulation in bone were related
to soil F intake. The rate of F accumulation in bone was curvilinearly related
to serum F concentration, and serum F concentration had to be > 0.25 mg
litre–1 before a significant accumulation of F occurred in bone.
Serum F concentration could be a useful index to assess the soil F intakes
and F status of grazing sheep. An examination of the sheep during and at
the end of the study showed no clinical signs of fluorosis, such as mottled
teeth or bone abnormalities.
Keywords sheep; fluorine; soil F intake; serum F; bone F
A03016; Received 10 March 2003; accepted 28 July 2003; online publication
date 5 November 2003
New Zealand Journal of Agricultural Research, 2003, Vol. 46: 279–286
0028–8233/03/4604–0279 $7.00/0 © The Royal Society of New Zealand
2003
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