Radiocaesium transfer to Ewes Fed contaminated hay after the chernobyl accident: Effect of vermiculite and AFCF (Ammonium Ferricyanoferrate) as countermeasures

Abstract

Contaminated hay harvested in the south-east of France in June 1986 was fed to lactating and non-lactating ewes for 50–60 days. The mean transfer coefficients observed were 0·075 days litre −1 ( SD = 0·004) to milk ( n = 3) and 0·11 days kg −1 ( SD = 0·01) to meat ( n = 5). Adding vermiculite to feed pellets decreased the transfer coefficients by a factor of 2·5 to both milk and meat if given at 30 g day −1; a factor of 8 difference was reached using 60 g day −1 added vermiculite or 2 g day −1 ammonium ferricyanoferrate (AFCF). No adverse effects on intake rates, animal weight or milk production were observed during the administration period (90–100 days, 50–60 days during the oral contamination and 40 days during the depletion period), whatever the treatment. Three lactating goats were fed the same contaminated hay, but chopped and mixed with powdered maize, for 15 days. The mean milk transfer coefficient was lower than that for ewes at 0·032 days litre −1 ( SD = 0·05).