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Effects of Dried Digested Sludge and Corn Grown on Soil Treated with Liquid Digested Sludge on Performance, Carcass Quality and Tissue Residues in Beef Steers^{1 ,2,}

University of Florida, Agricultural Research Center, Jay 32565

Abstract

Twenty-four steers were randomly allotted and fed one of three diets for 141 days to determine the effects of digested municipal sludges on performance, carcass quality and concentrations of selected potentially toxic metals in liver, muscle and kidney tissues. The experimental diets consisted of (1) control corn diet, (2) CDS corn diet, i.e., 500 g/head/day of dried Chicago digested sludge (CDS) incorporated into the control corn diet and (3) LDS corn diet, i.e., corn produced from soil treated with surface applications totaling 7.6 cm/ha of Pensacola liquid digested sludge (LDS) prior to planting. Inclusion of CDS in the diet or corn grown on soil treated with LDS had no effect on performance and carcass quality measurements of beef steers. No significant differences in concentrations of selected metals were detected in livers and kidneys of steers fed the control corn diet and the LDS corn diet. The Cd, Cu, Fe and Pb concentrations in livers were higher (P<.01 for Cd, Cu and Fe; P<.05 for Pb) in steers fed the CDS corn diet. Metal concentrations in muscles of steers fed the CDS corn diet were all within accepted tolerance or guideline limits. Accumulations of Cd, Fe, Hg and Pb in kidneys of steers fed the CDS corn diet were higher (P<.01) than those of the other two diets. Higher (P<.01) Cd concentrations were observed in livers and kidneys of steers fed the diet containing CDS. Since Cd exposure can cause kidney damage, the Cd content of a sewage sludge could determine the amount that could be safely applied to agricultural land.

¹ Florida Agr. Exp. Sta. Journal Series No. 1668.

² This work was supported in part by special funds from the Center for Environmental Programs of the Institute of Food and Agr. Sciences, Univ. of Florida, Gainesville 32611.

³ Animal Scientist and Soil Chemist, respectively, Agr. Research Center, Univ. of Florida, Jay.

⁴ Soil Chemist and Associate Meat Scientist, respectively, Univ. of Florida, Gainesville.