Exposure of pregnant dairy heifer to magnetic fields at 60 Hz and 30 µT

Thirty‐two pregnant Holstein heifers weighing 499 ± 45 kg, at 3.1 ± .7 months of gestation and 21 ± 2.0 months of age were confined and exposed to 30 µT magnetic fields (MFs) and a 12 h light/12 h dark light cycle. The heifers were divided into two replicates of 16 animals. Each replicate was divided into two groups of eight animals each, one group the non‐exposed and the second, the exposed group. The animals were subjected to the different treatments for 4 weeks. After 4 weeks, the animals switched treatment, the exposed group becoming the non‐exposed group and vice versa. Then the treatment continued for 4 more weeks. Catheters were inserted into the jugular vein, and blood samples were collected twice a week to estimate the concentration of progesterone (P4), melatonin (MLT), prolactin (PRL), and insulin‐like growth factor 1 (IGF‐1). Feed consumption was measured daily. The results indicated that exposure of pregnant heifers to MF similar to those encountered underneath a 735 kV high tension electrical power line for 20 h/day during a period of 4 weeks produces slight effects. This is evidenced by statistically significant higher body weight (1.2%), higher weekly body weight gain (30%), and decreases in the concentration of PRL (15%) and IGF‐1 (4%) in blood serum. The absence of abnormal clinical signs and the absolute magnitude of the significant changes detected during MF exposure, make it plausible to preclude any major animal health hazard. Bioelectromagnetics 28:471–476, 2007. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.