305. The excretion of borate by the dairy cow

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Abstract
1. Two Ayrshire cows in mid-lactation were fed for over 40 days on production rations containing from 16 to 20 g. of added borax.2. The daily excretion of borate during the experimental feeding period was 13–16 g. in the urine, 5–7 g. in the faeces, and 0·3–0·6 g. in the milk, compared with figures of 1·5, 1·0 and 0·1 g. for the control period. There was no detectable retention of borate in the body, and the levels of borate excretion rapidly returned to normal after cessation of the experimental feeding.3. No adverse effects were observed as a result of the borate feeding. The live weights of the animals remained normal, and there was no diuretic effect. The milk yield was also well maintained. The borate content of the milk increased from the normal level of 0·7 to over 3·0 p.p.m.4. Attention is drawn to the risk of using farmyard manure which has been made from the excreta of animals fed on boronated rations.

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