137Cs transfer coefficients from fodder to cow milk

The transfer of Cs-137 from the components of cows' diets to milk was followed in detail on 10 farms in the north-eastern region of Italy (Friuli-Venezia Giulia) from June to July 1988. Samples of milk, grass and other components of the cows' diet were collected regularly and analysed for radiocaesium content. The transfer factors, calculated for Cs-137 after a four-week feeding period with contaminated silage, were higher (0.0064) than those calculated in 1987 in the same area (0.0030). This may be attributable to the fact that the Cs-137 associated to the forage administrated to cows in 1988 was completely incorporated in the plant and thus more assimilable to the cattle.