Influence of cattle age, lithium chloride dose level, and food type in the retention of food aversions.

The influences of animal age and lithium chloride (LiCl) dose levels were evaluated in forming and retaining food aversions to licorice-flavored alfalfa pellets and beet pulp. Lithium chloride (100, 200, 300 mg/kg BW) was given to yearling and mature cattle by gavage (four animals per age-dose treatment group) after meals of the test food. Cattle dosed with the higher levels of LiCl formed aversions more rapidly in both trials than those dosed at lower levels. Both age classes extinguished aversions to licorice-flavored alfalfa pellets, but aversions to beet pulp persisted. Mature cattle retained aversions to beet pulp to a greater extent than did young cattle in social facilitation and single-choice persistence trials. Of dosages studied, the optimum for retaining aversions to beet pulp was 200 mg/kg BW for mature cows. Yearling cattle required 300 mg/kg for complete abstinence.