Removal of Pesticide Residues from Dairy Cattle

Abstract

The contamination of livestock with chlorinated hydrocarbon pesticide is a serious problem in animal agriculture. Once animals become contaminated with these pesticides elimination from the body is a slow process. The research on methods to intentionally increase the elimination of pesticides from cattle was reviewed. Several compounds have been fed to animals contaminated with heptachlor, dieldrin, or DDT. These compounds were mineral oil, animal and vegetable fat, calcium salts, bentonite, ethoxyquin, thyroprotein and vitamins A, D and E. In addition, the effects of high energy or low energy rations on pesticide excretion have been studied. Some of these materials helped to remove pesticides but the effects were not dramatic. The method that is effective as an antidote for pesticide poisoning in cattle is a combination of activated carbon and phenobarbital feeding. This method proved successful in a large scale field trial involving 105 lactating Holstein cows that had been contaminated with aldrin. © 1971, American Dairy Science Association. All rights reserved.