Heavy Metal Contents in Beef Cattle Grazing in Landfill of Makassar City, Indonesia

Abstract

The study analyzed heavy metal contents found in the beef cattle grazing in Landfill of Makassar City, Indonesia. The experiments samples were obtained from two different periods of grazing. One period was 2- and the other was 5-year-grazing with a total of 15 cattle, grazing in the landfill. Blood, feces, meat and liver were sampled to measure lead and cadmium contents. The result revealed Pb content in organic waste feed was lower than NRC standard; however, leachate was higher than the NRC standard. Pb content of beef cattle samples both 2- and 5-year-grazing period exceeded WHO standard, while Cd content was lower. Organic waste feed has high enough for providing cattle feed. Utilization of Landfill of Makassar City, Indonesia as a grazing area of beef cattle should be conducted in the dry season to prevent the cattle from consuming leachate.