Effect of feeding pine needles on ovine reproduction
Call, J.W.; James, L.F.
Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 169(12): 1301-1302
1976
ISSN/ISBN: 0003-1488 PMID: 1002594 Document Number: 106166
Since pine needles (Pinus ponderosa) have been shown to cause abortion in cattle, the possible effects in sheep were investigated. In 2 experiments in 2 successive years, 30 mature ewes were fed 25-50% pine needles in the diet for 20 days from 11 days before mating and again for 30 days from 60 days after mating. Oestrous cycles, CRs and lambing rates were not affected by pine needles in the diet, compared with 33 untreated controls, so that an anti-oestrogenic effect on the reproductive process in the ewe was not clinically detectable.