Deltamethrin residues in milk and tissues of lactating dairy cows

Lactating dairy cows were fed deltamethrin (2 or 10 mg kg-1 feed) for 28 consecutive days and deltamethrin residues measured in milk and tissues. Deltamethrin residues were higher relative to dose administered. The order of relative concentrations of deltamethrin in tissues, measured 1, 4, and 9 days after the last dose was: renal fat greater than subcutaneous fat greater than forequarter muscle greater than hindquarter muscle greater than liver greater than kidney. Depletion of deltamethrin residues in milk was very rapid indicating the half-life of the insectide of about 1 day. Trace amounts of deltamethrin metabolites 3-(2,2-dibromovinyl)-2,2-dimethylcyclopropane carboxylic acid (less than 0.0235 ppm) and 3-phenoxybenzoic acid (less than 0.034 ppm) were also detected in milk and tissues of treated cows.