Metropolitan Denver Sewage Sludge Fed to Feedlot Steers

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Abstract
Feedlot steers received 0, 4 or 12% Metropolitan Denver Sewage Sludge (MDSS) on a dry weight intake basis for a 94-day finishing period. The MDSS was anaerobically digested primary sludge that had been treated with polyelectrolyte to aid in dewatering during vacuum filtration. It was then dried to 35% water prior to mixing into the pelleted diet given the steers. Cattle (six on each treatment) were slaughtered and kidney, liver, muscle, bone, brain, blood, lung, spleen and fat were analyzed for As, Cd, Cu, Hg, Mo, Ni, Pb, Se and Zn. Growth of MDSS animals was less than controls (P<.025) because MDSS, apparently, provided no energy. MDSS ingestion caused no pathology. All 10 inorganic elements except Ni were increased in one or more body tissues following the 94-day MDSS ingestion. Percentage whole carcass retentions of ingested minerals were estimated as follows: .2% As, .04% Cd, .3% Cu, .07% Hg, .2% Mo,<.006%Ni, .6%Pb, 1.3%Se, .2%Zn, and 32% F. Steers retained low amounts of the toxic heavy metals from MDSS ingestion. Copyright © 1979. American Society of Animal Science . Copyright 1979 by American Society of Animal Science.

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