Ingested soil as a possible source of elements for grazing animals

W.B. Healy

Soil Bureau, DSIR, Lower Hutt

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Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production. 1970, 30: 11-19

Grazing animals ingest considerable amounts of soil under intensive farming conditions. However, even high soil intakes amount to probably less than 2% of the fresh herbage intake. Most elements in soil will be present at much greater concentrations than are found in pasture plants, and so ingested soil is a possible direct source of elements to animals as it passes through the alimentary tract.

The ability of rumen and duodenum liquors to extract elements from different soils was studied in vitro. Substantial changes, both increases and decreases, in the concentrations of a number of elements (Ca, Mg, P, Al, Cu, Fe, Mn, Se and Zn) of nutritional interest in the two liquors are reported; different soils produce different effects.

The possible implication of soil ingestion on element uptake by animals is considered; a brief report is made on an animal trial where radioactive soil was fed.

Keywords: NZSAPAB;

Last Updated 24-08-2000