Intoxication of cattle with sodium bromide-contaminated feed

Five concentrations of bromide ion, sodium bromide, were incorporated into a pelleted ration and fed to 5 groups of cattle for 49 days. Another group of cattle was fed volunteer oat hay cut from a field that had been fumigated with methyl bromide. On analysis, the hay contained between 6,800 and 8,400 parts per million of bromide ion. Groups fed the pelleted ration containing the highest concentration of bromide and those eating the contaminated hay developed signs of motor incoordination between the 10th and 12th days. The sign of incoordination correlated with serum bromide concentrations of 30 mEq/L or more. Serum bromide concentrations and associated neurologic signs subsided markedly 14 days after feeding of the toxic feeds was discontinued.