L. Smith, J. Morton, W. Catto
1999
Citations
1
Influential Citations
14
Citations
Journal
New Zealand Journal of Agricultural Research
Abstract
Abstract Two experiments were conducted to evaluate surface applications of potassium iodide and potassium iodate as alternatives to direct treatment of ewes where iodine (I) deficiency may be a problem. In Experiment 1, the hypothesis that grazing of pasture which had been sprayed with a potassium iodide and oil mixture results in increased blood iodine (serum T4) levels in ewes was tested over two years on five farms in Southland and West Otago, New Zealand. The results show that spraying elevated pasture I levels from March to pre lambing. The increased pasture I levels increased serum T4 levels by only 1.5% in late winter, an increase which was not significant (P > 0.05). There were small increases in lambing percentages (1–5%) due to the spraying in both years, but these were not significant (P > 0.05). In Experiment 2, the hypothesis that surface applications of potassium iodide and potassium iodate fertiliser can result in increased herbage I levels was tested on two farms in Southland and West Ota...