Percent Cesium-134 and Strontium-85 in Milk, Urine, and Feces of Goats on Normal and Verxite-Containing Diets

Abstract

Four goats of predominantly Toggenburg breeding were used in a cross-over design to study the effects of vermiculite (verxite flakes) on the binding of SSSr and 1~4Cs. Vermiculite was incorporated into the grain ration at a level of 10% of the grain ration (approximately 3% of total ration) of one-half of the animals. Each morning either ssSr or la4Cs was administered separately in gelatin capsules per os at an approximate level of 0.6 t~Ci per day to the respective animals. Milk samples were collected twice daily while total collections of urine and feces were made on a 24-hour basis. Portions of all samples were counted using a gamma scintillation spectrometer.