The Rural Voice, 1989-06, Page 35should be mixed with other feeds, with
the provision of an energy supplement
being especially important.
Plant Estrogens
This is a problem found mainly in
legumes, especially clover. It has
been linked to reproductive problems
in both cattle and sheep. The risk
sccms to be greater where soil
deficiencies of P, N, or S occur, and
may possibly relate to soil levels of Co
and Se as well. Healthy, insect -free
plants are less likely to be affected.
It has been suggested that coumes-
trol (the estrogenic compound found
in alfalfa and ladino clover) may be
synthesized by either the pathogen
itself, or by the plant in response to its
attack. Significant differences in
coumestrol content between alfalfa
cultivars have been shown in various
studies. Selection for this trait and for
disease -resistant cultivars should
control fertility problems caused by
feeding high -estrogenic alfalfa.
Toxic Compounds
While such problems are often
localized, they may cause severe econ-
omic loss in a given area or at certain
times of the year. Most common are
cyanogenetic glucosides (such as
prussic acid) and alkaloids and
mycotoxins (which cause problems
like fescue foot, ryegrass staggers,
slobbers, facial eczema, ergot
poisoning, and photo -sensitization).
Many people fear that the contin-
ued overuse of pasture and high forage
yields under heavy fertilization will
eventually deplete mineral reserves in
the soil, creating further mineral
deficiencies and imbalances in the
plants (and therefore in the animals
consuming them).
From Forages: The Science of
Grassland Agriculture, comes this
advice: "There seems to be little jus-
tification at present for recommending
any major change in the development
of forage management systems on the
grounds of possible impairment of
animal health or productivity. Agron-
omists and plant breeders should,
however ... recognize that current
trends toward intensification of both
grassland and animal production may
lead to an increase in the incidence of
metabolic problems in livestock."0
re .\s
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JUNE 1989 33
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