FALLOUT RADIATION EFFECTS ON LIVESTOCK (Part A) AND FOOD CROPS (Part B) ANNUAL REPORT November 1, 1968 to October 31, 1969

摘要

Sheep fed 90Y-labeled fallout stimulant at the rate of 2.5 mCi/kg to simulate 7% forage retention developed anorexia, diarrhea, and weight loss feed intake of the survivors usually returned to normal within 60 days. Beta irradiation of 57,000 rads to the dorsum of sheep, equivalent to 12% of the body surface, severely affected the skin and reduced body weight by 15% with no reduction in feed intake. Whole-body gamma irradiation of 240 R at 1 R/min affected only the platelets and white blood cells with no mortalities. These three types of irradiation given singly had little effect on mortality but when the three were combined. 4 of 8 sheep died within 60 days. In addition to mortality losses the loss of weight would severely affect the productivity of animals exposed to these levels of fallout. Preliminary data on cattle indicate that the combined radiation insults would be more detrimental to cattle than to sheep.