Prevent lead poisoning on pastures

By Janet Kanters, Editor

At this time of year, when livestock are giving birth, the need to ensure safety for young animals is important.

In particular, before introducing animals to a new pasture, farmers are encouraged to check for evidence of discarded or abandoned batteries.

“Discarded batteries that have gone through several freeze-thaw cycles and no longer have intact cases are the most dangerous,” said Dr. Joe Kendall, veterinary toxicologist with Alberta Agriculture and Forestry. “The lead plates are exposed and easily accessible by the animals.”

He said young calves are particularly attracted to the taste of lead and will actively seek it out.

“Cattle that have consumed toxic levels of lead will exhibit seizures and sudden death. They may appear blind and wander aimlessly. Cattle that have consumed smaller amounts of lead will appear normal, but the lead levels in the body will make the meat and milk unsafe for human consumption until the lead has been eliminated,” noted Kendall. “Animals that have died from lead toxicity must be safely buried to prevent lead toxicity in wildlife.”

He added that most cases of lead exposure and poisoning in cattle that have been reported to the office of the chief provincial veterinarian have occurred in cattle grazing on pasture. “Lead exposure or poisoning, along with other toxins, must be reported to the office of the chief provincial veterinarian. It is important to reduce the risk of contamination of pasture and farmland with lead and to be diligent about keeping an eye out for any signs of buried batteries or other sources of lead.”

Abandoned and discarded batteries are usually found around abandoned vehicles and farm machinery, old dumps and disposal sites, homesteads, outbuildings and along fence lines.

If the batteries have broken open, it is important to do a thorough job cleaning up not only the lead plates but also the soil around the battery.

Used lead acid batteries should be safely disposed at collection stations across the province. Go to Recycling Council of Alberta (recyclesearch.com/profile/recyclinghotline) to find the nearest location to dispose of spent lead acid batteries.