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

Abstract

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.

Keywords:

• Foraging
• livestock
• military training
• munitions
• pasture
• pollution

Acknowledgements

Sigbjørn Moen and others at SHF's small ruminant division provided excellent help with the study animals and the experimental setup.