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<blockquote data-quote="Derrick Hughes" data-source="post: 7509586" data-attributes="member: 473"><p>Never said that .</p><p>The information is not available in any form of guarantee.</p><p>But its quite clear that pure stands of Red clover should be avoided at Mating and prolonged feeding of Pure Red clover can cause permanent infertility</p><p>The information on other Legumes is more complicated, but no legume under stress from weather or dessese of some kind should be fed at matting as this increases the risk , levels in other legumes are a lot lower than Red Clover, any legume as part of a mix would be of no issue if it was only a small part of the mix</p><p></p><p></p><p>Ibers </p><p>Permanent infertility When ewes are exposed to high oestrogen red clover for prolonged periods permanent infertility may occur. Clover infertility results in permanent damage to the reproductive tract which becomes worse with each year‟s exposure to oestrogenic pastures (Barrett et al., 1965). The oestrogen affects the structure of the cervix and sperm transport and conception rates are reduced (Lightfoot et al., 1973). There are often no visual signs that ewes are suffering from permanent infertility as ovarian function remains normal and ewes will show normal oestrous cycles (Adams, 1995). The lack of visual signs means that the condition often goes unnoticed and it is estimated that in Australia 1 million ewes may be affected and that, on average, affected flocks have around a 10% increase in non-pregnant ewes (Adams, 1990). Diagnosis of the problem is difficult and depends primarily on detection of pathological changes in the cervix, which is normally identified on material collected from ewes at abattoirs, rather than history or clinical signs.</p><p></p><p>1.2.1 Factors affecting phyto-oestrogen levels in white clover White clovers mostly produce phyto-oestrogens when grown under stress. The most common factor stimulating coumestrol production is leaf infection by fungal diseases (Wong et al., 1971). However, it is also worth noting that soil-borne fungi that live on pasture plants can also produce oestrogenic compounds (called myco-oestrogens) (Markiewicz, 2008). Insect damage, virus infection and poor plant nutrition can also lead to increased coumestrol levels. Coumestrol levels in white clover do not vary with the stage of growth. Legume density will influence the oestrogen concentration of the pasture so the presence of grasses and weeds will dilute the coumestrol concentration (Croker et al., 2005).</p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p>IBERS Legumes and Fertility Review clovers are strongly influenced by environmental and nutritional factors. The greatest content of phyto-oestrogen in lucerne plants is often found at the budding stage of growth, at which time environmental and nutritional factors are likely to have their greatest influence over the crop. As with other stress factors in other forage legumes, pests and diseases have been shown to increase the coumestrol production in lucerne (Hawk et al., 1967; Kain and Biggs, 1980). 1.3.2 Effect of high phyto-oestrogen levels in lucerne on ewes Many examples of research, across a wide range of countries, into the effects of phytooestrogen levels in lucerne on ewes have been identified as part of the review (albeit none identified in the UK), with several stating that the effect with regards to fertility has been found to be minimal. Research using Finnish Landrace ewes (Sormunen-Cristian et al., 1998) compared ewe fertility and performance between a lucerne-based silage and a timothy-based silage. Results from the research indicated that moderate coumestrol content of lucerne had no detrimental influence on ewe conception or “prolificacy” and that plant oestrogens in yellow-flowered lucerne might hasten oestrus activities in ewes and thus shorten the mating period. Secondly, work by Ruttle and Goret (1968) found that ewes either grazing lucerne or fed baled lucerne did not have reduced conception rates at first oestrus or lambing percentage, and rams used in the same study showed no measurable changes in semen quality.</p><p></p><p> However, over a prolonged period of time, research work conducted in Spain on Manchego ewes contradicts this (Cantero et al., 1996). Anatomical studies showed that “43% of ewes from a group of 28 fed on lucerne-based diets displayed macroscopic changes within the genital tract” when compared to a control group fed on a non-leguminous diet. The research also showed that a “greater than normal development of the cervical folds was observed” indicating that a prolonged exposure to coumestrol was seen to have permanent effects on a ewe‟s reproductive organs. Limited evidence was also found on the effect of feeding lucerne to immature females - in a group of ten ewe lambs fed on lucerne silage the ovaries were seen to be smaller than those of a group of ten fed on Italian ryegrass (Valderrábanoa et al., 1988). Microscopic examination showed specific features affecting the uterus, cervix and vagina; however, no difference in ovarian activity was detected.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Derrick Hughes, post: 7509586, member: 473"] Never said that . The information is not available in any form of guarantee. But its quite clear that pure stands of Red clover should be avoided at Mating and prolonged feeding of Pure Red clover can cause permanent infertility The information on other Legumes is more complicated, but no legume under stress from weather or dessese of some kind should be fed at matting as this increases the risk , levels in other legumes are a lot lower than Red Clover, any legume as part of a mix would be of no issue if it was only a small part of the mix Ibers Permanent infertility When ewes are exposed to high oestrogen red clover for prolonged periods permanent infertility may occur. Clover infertility results in permanent damage to the reproductive tract which becomes worse with each year‟s exposure to oestrogenic pastures (Barrett et al., 1965). The oestrogen affects the structure of the cervix and sperm transport and conception rates are reduced (Lightfoot et al., 1973). There are often no visual signs that ewes are suffering from permanent infertility as ovarian function remains normal and ewes will show normal oestrous cycles (Adams, 1995). The lack of visual signs means that the condition often goes unnoticed and it is estimated that in Australia 1 million ewes may be affected and that, on average, affected flocks have around a 10% increase in non-pregnant ewes (Adams, 1990). Diagnosis of the problem is difficult and depends primarily on detection of pathological changes in the cervix, which is normally identified on material collected from ewes at abattoirs, rather than history or clinical signs. 1.2.1 Factors affecting phyto-oestrogen levels in white clover White clovers mostly produce phyto-oestrogens when grown under stress. The most common factor stimulating coumestrol production is leaf infection by fungal diseases (Wong et al., 1971). However, it is also worth noting that soil-borne fungi that live on pasture plants can also produce oestrogenic compounds (called myco-oestrogens) (Markiewicz, 2008). Insect damage, virus infection and poor plant nutrition can also lead to increased coumestrol levels. Coumestrol levels in white clover do not vary with the stage of growth. Legume density will influence the oestrogen concentration of the pasture so the presence of grasses and weeds will dilute the coumestrol concentration (Croker et al., 2005). IBERS Legumes and Fertility Review clovers are strongly influenced by environmental and nutritional factors. The greatest content of phyto-oestrogen in lucerne plants is often found at the budding stage of growth, at which time environmental and nutritional factors are likely to have their greatest influence over the crop. As with other stress factors in other forage legumes, pests and diseases have been shown to increase the coumestrol production in lucerne (Hawk et al., 1967; Kain and Biggs, 1980). 1.3.2 Effect of high phyto-oestrogen levels in lucerne on ewes Many examples of research, across a wide range of countries, into the effects of phytooestrogen levels in lucerne on ewes have been identified as part of the review (albeit none identified in the UK), with several stating that the effect with regards to fertility has been found to be minimal. Research using Finnish Landrace ewes (Sormunen-Cristian et al., 1998) compared ewe fertility and performance between a lucerne-based silage and a timothy-based silage. Results from the research indicated that moderate coumestrol content of lucerne had no detrimental influence on ewe conception or “prolificacy” and that plant oestrogens in yellow-flowered lucerne might hasten oestrus activities in ewes and thus shorten the mating period. Secondly, work by Ruttle and Goret (1968) found that ewes either grazing lucerne or fed baled lucerne did not have reduced conception rates at first oestrus or lambing percentage, and rams used in the same study showed no measurable changes in semen quality. However, over a prolonged period of time, research work conducted in Spain on Manchego ewes contradicts this (Cantero et al., 1996). Anatomical studies showed that “43% of ewes from a group of 28 fed on lucerne-based diets displayed macroscopic changes within the genital tract” when compared to a control group fed on a non-leguminous diet. The research also showed that a “greater than normal development of the cervical folds was observed” indicating that a prolonged exposure to coumestrol was seen to have permanent effects on a ewe‟s reproductive organs. Limited evidence was also found on the effect of feeding lucerne to immature females - in a group of ten ewe lambs fed on lucerne silage the ovaries were seen to be smaller than those of a group of ten fed on Italian ryegrass (Valderrábanoa et al., 1988). Microscopic examination showed specific features affecting the uterus, cervix and vagina; however, no difference in ovarian activity was detected. [/QUOTE]
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