Urinary Excretion of Bromide in Sheep Wethers

Abstract Bromide (Br 1− ), occurring naturally in groundwater in southern Africa, was shown to disrupt endocrine processes and suppress production in livestock. Sheep on natural rangelands are exposed to Br 1− when groundwater is used as drinking water. The aim was to quantify the urinary excretion of Br 1− in sheep exposed to varying concentrations of Br 1− ingested. Merino wethers were randomly assigned to four treatments. Water intake was measured twice daily. Individual urine output was collected continuously and measured after 12 h for 72 h after ingesting the treatment dose. The mean percentage Br 1− excretion over all treatment concentrations for all sheep over three treatment periods (24, 48, and 72 h) was 4.8, 16.8, and 31.6%, respectively. As the quantity of Br 1− ingested increased over treatments (0.01, 0.1, 1, and 10 mg/L), the proportion of total Br 1− excreted decreased. The negative relationship of Br 1− ingestion through drinking water and percentage renal excretion indicates Br 1− retention in the body. Information © The Authors 2026