Biological effect of ultraviolet radiation on cattle: bovine ocular squamous cell carcinoma.

The relationship between bovine ocular squamous cell carcinoma and ultraviolet radiation was studied. Experimental procedures were devised to irradiate cattle with predetermined quantities of ultraviolet beta. Irradiation induced a preneoplastic ocular growth in one of four irradiated cattle. An epizootiologic study indicates that since 1950 the occurrence of bovine ocular squamous cel carcinoma reported at slaughter has increased. This increase was real and not due to an increase in numbers of cattle.