Effect of Boron as an Antidote on Dry Matter Intake, Nutrient Utilization and Fluorine Balance in Buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) Exposed to High Fluoride Ration

Abstract

It is well known that excessive accumulation of fluorides can exert toxic effects on various tissues and organs so as to severely damage the health and production of animals. The aim of this study was to determine beneficial effect of boron on nutrient utilization in buffalo calves exposed to high fluoride (F) ration. For this purpose, we used three groups of four male Murrah buffalo calves (body weight 98-100 kg, aged 6-8 month) each. Control animal was given only basal diet and concentrate mixture. However, treatment I animals were fed basal diet, concentrate mixture, and F [as NaF, 60 ppm of dry matter (DM)]. The treatment II animals were fed basal diet, concentrate mixture, F (as NaF, 60 ppm of DM), and B (as sodium tetraborate, 140 ppm of DM). After 90 days of experimental feeding, a metabolism trial of 7 days duration was conducted to study the treatment effect on nutrient utilization of proximate nutrients, absorption, excretion, and retention of N, Ca, P, Fe, Zn, Cu, and F. Dietary F significantly (p < 0.05) depressed the dry matter intake and increased the apparent digestibility, absorption, and retention of F. However, boron supplementation significantly (p < 0.05) decreased the apparent digestibility, absorption, and retention of F and improved the dry matter intake, fecal excretion, and percent of absorbed F excreted via urine. Apparent digestibility of proximate nutrients (viz. DM, crude protein, crude fiber, ether extract, and nitrogen free extract) was unaffected on either F or F+B treatment. However, absorption and excretion of N, Ca, P, Fe, Zn, and Cu were affected significantly (p < 0.05) on F or F+B treatment. These findings suggest that fluoride-containing diet for short duration has effect on nutrient utilization, and boron at 140-ppm dose level, in general, antagonized the absorption and retention of F and also improved the feed intake in buffalo calves.

Effect of Long-term Fluoride Exposure on Growth, Nutrient Utilization and Fluoride Kinetics of Calves Fed Graded Levels of Dietary Protein

“…Besides, it can Different superscripts in the same row differ significantly also be explained partly on the basis of the observed greater intake of concentrate in relation to wheat straw (62:38) on the F-supplemented diets compared to non-supplemented diets (53:47). But contrary to the present findings, no effect of F on digestibility of nutrients was reported by earlier workers [8,29,38]. Reduction (p<0.01) in N intake observed in calves fed F-supplemented diets than their counterparts was chiefly because of its effect on lowering DM intakes.…”

“…Reduction in DM intake due to high dietary F has been reported earlier by many workers [8,[26][27][28][29]. In the present study, the concentrate contained about 300 mg/kg F; reduced DM intake have been recorded earlier even on feeding of a much lower dietary F levels [30].…”

“…Several compounds have been tried to alleviate fluorosis viz. calcium, phosphorus, aluminum, sodium chloride, lysine, diethylstilboestrol, oxytetracycline, vitamin C, molybdenum, copper, iron, boron, tungsten, vanadium, selenium, glutamine, cystine, and glucocorticoids [5][6][7][8]. Dietary stress is known to affect skeletal fluorosis especially malnutrition, low protein, calcium, and vitamin C [7,9,10].…”

Statement of EFSA on the possible risks for public and animal health from the contamination of the feed and food chain due to possible ash‐fall following the eruption of the Eyjafjallajökull volcano in Iceland

“…Fluoride at 1-2 mg/kg and 1-1.5 mg/L in animal rations and water, respectively, is considered adequate and safe (Merck, 2008;Bharti et al, 2008).…”

Effects of addition of fluorine in diets differing in protein content on urinary fluoride excretion, clinical chemistry and thyroid hormones in calves

“…Various compounds have been tried to alleviate fluorosis viz. calcium, phosphorus, aluminum, sodium chloride, lysine, diethylstilboestrol, oxytetracycline, vitamin C, molybdenum, copper, iron, boron, tungsten, vanadium, selenium, glutamine, cystine and glucocorticoids (NAS, 1974;Parker et al, 1979;Wheeler & Feel, 1983;Bharti et al, 2008). Dietary stress is known to affect skeletal fluorosis especially malnutrition, low protein, calcium and vitamin C (Wheeler & Feel, 1983;He et al, 2008;Wang et al, 2008).…”