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Fused Tricalcium Phosphate as a Low-Fluorine Phosphorus Supplement for Dairy Cattle¹

Department of Dairy Husbandry, Virginia Agricultural Experiment Station, Blacksburg

ABSTRACT

Six dairy steers received three levels of fluorine in their grain rations (0.0048, 0.02 and 0.04 per cent) from shortly after birth to 3.5 years of age from fused tricalcium phosphate and raw rock phosphate.

The rate of growth of the three groups, as measured by weight and height-at-withers, did not differ significantly.

The fluorine content of the radial bone and the first and third lower molar teeth indicated a definite increase in the deposition of fluorine in these tissues on the fluorine rations, but the increased deposition was not proportional to intake.

Roughness, discoloration and abrasion of the teeth were increased markedly in the two groups receiving the higher levels of fluorine.

It was concluded that fused tricalcium phosphate with 0.24 per cent fluorine is a safe phosphorus supplement if used with discretion.

A grain mixture containing 0.02 per cent or more of fluorine was found to be unsafe for feeding to dairy cattle.

¹ Published with the approval of the Director of the Virginia Agricultural Experiment Station.

² Present address: New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station, Sussex.

³ Present address: Ohio Agricultural Experiment Station, Wooster.

⁴ The authors wish to thank Dr. R. D. Hatch, Dr. W. L. Ingalls, and Dr. W. B. Bell of the Biology Department for their assistance in the examination of the animals in this experiment, and Prof. J. F. Eheart of the Agricultural Chemistry Department, and Mr. J. H. Walthall and Dr. R. J. Jones of the Tennessee Valley Authority for their assistance in supplying chemical data on the samples obtained in the experiment.