Effects of EMFs on farm animals

We give here information on some studies of the effects of EMFs on farm animals.  See also a summary of EMFs and agriculture.  The studies we list are mainly those summarised by the 1991 Gibbs Inquiry plus more recent studies supported by Hydro-Quebec.  We will be happy to add any more recent studies.

Animals studied Setting Authors Outcomes tested Findings
Beef and dairy cattle, sheep, pigs, horses 11 livestock farms traversed by 765 kV power lines Anstutz and Miller, 1977-1979 Health, behaviour and performance No effects found
Dairy cattle 55 dairy farms near 765 kV power lines in Ohio Williams and Bieler, 1979 Milk production and health No effects found
Cattle 400 kV power line in Sweden Algers and Hennicks, 1985; Algers and Hultgren, 1987 Inseminations per pregnancy, conception rate, foetal viability No effects found
Pigs Pens housed underneath 345 kV line in Iowa Mahmoud and Zimmerman, 1982 Performance, behaviour and carcass quality No effects
Dairy cattle Artificial exposure facility, 10 kV/m and 30 µT, McGill University, Canada Burchard and various co-authors.  13 papers from 1996 to 2006 Productivity, diet, levels of various hormones, metabolites etc No major effects, various minor effects reported
Female lambs 500 kV transmission line, Oregon Lee and various co-authors.  3 papers from 1993 to 1996 Weight gain, wool growth, melatonin levels, age of puberty No  effects
Female lambs 500 kV transmission line Hefenieder et al 2001 Immunological properties No  effects (failure to confirm earlier unpublished reports)
Dairy cows 380 kV transmission line, Italy Stelletta et al, 2007 Circadian rhythym, some antigen properties Some effects reported