Effect of contamination of pasture with military explosives on grazing behaviour in sheep

Ungulates grazing in military training areas may be exposed to non-combusted fragments of various explosives, among which 2-methyl-1,3,5-trinitrobenzene (TNT) and 1,3,5,7-tetranitro-1,3,5,7-tetrazocane (HMX) are two of the most common. This study investigated if sheep react to their pastures being c...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Acta agriculturae Scandinavica. Section A, Animal science Animal science, 2011-01, Vol.61 (3), p.157-160
Main Authors: Steinheim, G, Voie, Ø. A, Ådnøy, T, Longva, K. S, Holand, Ø
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Explosives
Foraging
grazing
livestock
Military training
munitions
pasture
pastures
pollution
Sheep
trinitrotoluene
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Summary:Ungulates grazing in military training areas may be exposed to non-combusted fragments of various explosives, among which 2-methyl-1,3,5-trinitrobenzene (TNT) and 1,3,5,7-tetranitro-1,3,5,7-tetrazocane (HMX) are two of the most common. This study investigated if sheep react to their pastures being contaminated with TNT or HMX. The experiment was conducted in fenced-in study areas on grass-dominated pasture. The eight sheep studied did not differentiate between clean pasture and contaminated pasture when choosing freely between plots containing TNT, HMX or no contamination. The results indicate that sheep grazing military training areas are unlikely to have behavioural responses reducing time spent grazing sites where TNT or HMX are present as fragments in the field layer.
ISSN:1651-1972
0906-4702
1651-1972
DOI:10.1080/09064702.2011.623713