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Soil ingestion by dairy cattle

G F Fries, G S Marrow, P A Snow

    Journal of Dairy Science
    |April 1, 1982
    PubMed
    Summary

    Dairy cows ingest soil, with amounts varying by housing and diet. Titanium in feces, measured by x-ray fluorescence spectroscopy, indicates soil ingestion levels in cattle.

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    Area of Science:

    • Animal Science
    • Soil Science
    • Analytical Chemistry

    Background:

    • Soil ingestion is a common occurrence in grazing and housed livestock.
    • Quantifying soil ingestion is crucial for understanding animal health and nutrition.
    • Titanium (Ti) in soil can serve as a reliable marker for soil ingestion.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To quantify soil ingestion in dairy cattle across different management systems.
    • To establish titanium (Ti) in feces as an indicator of soil ingestion.
    • To correlate soil ingestion with housing conditions and diet.

    Main Methods:

    • Fecal samples were collected from nine dairy herds representing various management groups.
    • Titanium content in feces and soil was determined using x-ray fluorescence spectroscopy.
    • Soil ingestion was calculated as a percentage of dry matter intake, using Ti as an indicator.

    Main Results:

    • Soil ingestion varied significantly based on housing: concrete confinement, freestall barns with soil bedding, unpaved lots, and pasture.
    • Lactating cows on concrete ingested 0.14-0.53% soil, while those with access to unpaved lots ingested 0.60-0.96% of dry matter.
    • Heifers and dry cows showed higher soil ingestion, particularly those on pasture (1.38-2.43%) or in unpaved lots with vegetation (1.56-3.77%).
    • The sensitivity of the method was higher in clay soils (4-5 times greater Ti content) than in sandy soils.
    • A strong correlation was found between the percentage of soil in feces and the percentage of ash in feces (Soil = 0.69 Ash - 5.1).

    Conclusions:

    • Titanium analysis of feces provides a reliable method for estimating soil ingestion in dairy cattle.
    • Housing management significantly impacts the level of soil ingestion.
    • Understanding soil ingestion is vital for optimizing animal nutrition and health management in dairy operations.

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