This study was performed at the beef cattle region at Anhembi County, State of São Paulo, Brazil. Eight beef farms where cattle were raised at pasture were selected. These farms were located around Barra Bonita dam. One-hundred-and-sixty Nelore cattle, males and females, were divided into two groups of 80 cattle each. One group received mineral salt naturally contaminated with lead, whereas the other group received lead-free mineral salt. The main goal of this study was to compare both groups. Blood samples, and samples from the mineral salt and grass were collected and analyzed for the presence of lead. Blood lead concentration was found to be below the "tolerance limit" for this species in both groups. It was concluded that the lead concentration detected in the mineral salt did not present a risk for toxicity and cumulative effects in the population studied.
blood; cattle; mineral salt; lead
