Al. Barnes et al., LUPINOSIS OF EWES AROUND THE TIME OF MATING REDUCES REPRODUCTIVE-PERFORMANCE, Australian Journal of Agricultural Research, 47(8), 1996, pp. 1305-1314
Lupinosis was induced in Merino ewes by subcutaneous injections of pho
mopsin toxins, given for 2 weeks before and up to 2 weeks after the st
art of joining, and the reproductive performance of the injected ewes
was compared with untreated control ewes. Two experiments were conduct
ed in consecutive years, with similar results. The liver damage and im
pairment of liver function due to lupinosis were measured by increases
in plasma activities of glutamate dehydrogenase and gamma glutamyl tr
ansferase, plasma concentration of bilirubin, and plasma clearance of
bromosulfthalein. Ovulation rate was depressed by phomopsin administra
tion (1.11 v. 1.33 for the combined phomopsin-treated and control ewes
, P < 0.001), and fewer phomopsin-treated ewes were pregnant (70.4% fo
r the combined phomopsin-treated ewes v. 93.8% for the combined contro
l ewes, P < 0.01). Thus, fewer lambs were born to the phomopsin-treate
d ewes compared with the control ewes (66.0 v. 109.3% for the combined
years, P < 0.01). These results indicate that there may be severe det
rimental effects of phomopsin intoxication on reproductive performance
of ewes.