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Responses of Heifers Ingesting Boron in Water^{1 ,2,}

University of Nevada³, West Lafayette, IN 47907

Abstract

Twelve Hereford heifers were used to determine the effects of elevated concentrations of boron in drinking water. The first of two experiments employed a 3 x 3 latin-square design with four squares. The treatments were tap-water (.8 ppm boron), 150 ppm boronwater and 300 ppm boron-water. Periods were 30 days each. Total urine was collected during the last week of each period, and renal clearance observationswere made on the last day of each period. The second experiment estimated borate taste response. When given a choice, heifers discriminated against concentrations ,greater than 29 ppm and rejected concentrations above 95 ppm boron. None preferred boronwater to tap-water. When only one boron concentration was offered at a time, water consumption and urine output were not affected; but at 150 and 300 ppm, hay consumption decreased and weight loss was noted. Plasma boron concentrations were .53 ± .151 ppm, 11.2 ± .91 ppm and 18.9 ± .60 ppm while the heifers were drinking tap-water, 150 boronwater and 300 ppm boron-water, respectively.Thirty, 67 and 69% of the total daily boron intake on the three respective treatments was excreted in the urine. Although glomerular filtration and osmolal clearance were unaffected by the boron-water, a "relative diuresis" was indicated by modifications in free water clearance. Urinary excretion of phosphate was decreased by the boron-water. These and other data indicate that 300 ppm boron is not acutely toxic to heifers when consumed via the drinking water and that, while the safe tolerance concentration was not determined, it probably lies between 40 and 150 ppm.

¹ Conducted in cooperation with Western Regional Research Project W-135, Limiting Stress of Food Producing Animals to Increase Efficiency.

² Contributions from the Agricultural Experiment Station, University of Nevada Reno, Journal Series No. 340.

³ Division of Animal Science.