Document Type
Report
Report Number
A.S. Series 67-32
Publication Date
1967
Summary
In Australia during the early 1940'sa syndrome known as "clover disease" was observed in sheep grazing subterranean clover. This syndrome was characterized by a marked reduction in fertility which was later proved to be due to a high content of estrogenic substances in the clover. Alfalfa has since been shown to contain varying levels of these plant estrogens. The most important of the plant estrogens present in alfalfa is coumestrol because of its relatively greater biological potency than the other plant estrogens and because of its more frequent occurrence. Plant physiologists have shown that alfalfa infected with certain fungus diseases contains a level of coumestrol which increases with the amount of disease present in the alfalfa plants. Since alfalfa meal is such an important source of nutrients for farm animals and is often included in swine rations this study was conducted to determine if alfalfa plants with coumestrol levels in excess of 100 parts per million (ppm) would have any effect on the reproductive performance of gilts when included in their ration.
Number of Pages
3
Type
text
Format
application/pdf
Language
en
Publisher
Agricultural Experiment Station, South Dakota State University
Recommended Citation
Anderson, R.H.; Shelby, D.R.; Seerley, R.W.; and Loper, G.M., "The Influence of Alfalfa Coumestrol on the Reproductive Performance of Gilts" (1967). South Dakota Swine Field Day Proceedings and Research Reports, 1967. 9.
https://openprairie.sdstate.edu/sd_swine_1967/9