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. 1994 Jun 1;35(2):173–183. doi: 10.1186/BF03548345

Effects of Oestrogenic Silage on Some Clinical and Endocrinological Parameters in Ovariectomized Heifers

Kliniska och endokrinologiska forandringar hos ova-riectomerade kvigor som utfodrats med ostrogent ensilage

A I Nwannenna 19,49,✉, A Madej 19,29,✉, TJ-O Lundh 39, G Fredriksson 19,39
PMCID: PMC8101432  PMID: 7942383

Abstract

Nwannenna A.I., A. Madej, T.J-O. Lundh and G. Fredriksson: Effects of oestrogenic silage on some clinical and endocrinological parameters in ovariectomized heifers. Acta vet scand. 1994, 35, 173-183.–The influence of phytoestrogens was studied in 3 ovariectomized Swedish Friesian heifers fed 20 kg of 100% red clover silage per heifer/day for 14 days. Behaviour, reproductive organs and pituitary response to exogenous gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) injections were monitored. Clinical effects like oedema and mucous discharge in the vulva, presence of milky fluid in the mammae and increases in teat size and the cross-sectional distance of the uterus were observed in heifers fed red clover silage. Fluid accumulation in the uterus, visualized by means of ultrasonography, had still not disappeared 30 days after the red clover silage had been completely withdrawn. Red clover silage appeared to reduce the magnitude and duration of the pituitary response to GnRH injections.

Keywords: reproductive organs, LH, GnRH, phytoestrogens, red cloven

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Acknowledgments

This study was supported by a grant from the Swedish Council for Forestry and Agricultural Research. Financial support for A.I. Nwannenna from the Swedish International Programme on Animal Reproduction is gratefully acknowledged. Hormone analyses were carried out at the Department of Clinical Chemistry. We are also grateful to Ms Catharina Falkenberg for efficient assistance in all aspects of this work and to Ms Mari-Anne Carlsson for skillful technical help. The authors wish to thank Professor Göran Åström for fruitful discussion and criticism. Ahmadu Ballo University, Nigeria is acknowledged for granting A.I.N. study leave.(Received December 6, 1993; accepted March 7, 1994).

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