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. 2020 Dec 3;10(12):2291.
doi: 10.3390/ani10122291.

Feeding Tall Fescue Seed Reduces Ewe Milk Production, Lamb Birth Weight and Pre-Weaning Growth Rate

Jessica L Britt  1 , Maslyn A Greene  1 , Sarah A Wilbanks  1 , J Keith Bertrand  1 , James L Klotz  2 , William Bridges Jr  3 , Glen Aiken  4 , John G Andrae  5 , Susan K Duckett  1
Affiliations

Feeding Tall Fescue Seed Reduces Ewe Milk Production, Lamb Birth Weight and Pre-Weaning Growth Rate

Jessica L Britt et al. Animals (Basel). .

Abstract

Endophyte-infected tall fescue (E+) produces ergovaline and ergovalinine, which are mycotoxins that act as dopamine agonists to suppress prolactin and induce vasoconstriction. The experiment was designed as a 3 × 2 × 2 factorial with DRD2 genotype (AA, AG, GG), fescue seed (endophyte-free, E- or endophyte-infected, E+), stage of gestation (MID, d (day) 35-85; LATE, d 86-parturition) and all interactions in the model. Pregnant Suffolk ewes (n = 60) were stratified by genotype and fed E+ or E- seed in a total mixed ration according to treatment assignment. Serum prolactin concentrations were lower (p < 0.05) in ewes fed E+ seed but did not differ by maternal DRD2 genotype or two-way interaction. Lamb birth weight was lower (p < 0.05) in ewes fed E+ seed in last trimester. Pre-weaning growth rate, milk production and total weaning weight was reduced (p < 0.05) in ewes fed E+ fescue seed during MID and LATE gestation. Ingestion of ergovaline/ergovalinine in last trimester reduces lamb birth weight; however, lamb growth rate, milk production and total weaning weight are reduced in all ewes fed E+ during mid and last trimester.

Keywords: ergot alkaloids; milk; sheep; tall fescue; vasoconstriction; weaning.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest. The funders had no role in the design of the study; in the collection, analyses, or interpretation of data; in the writing of the manuscript, or in the decision to publish the results.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Serum prolactin concentrations, log-transformed for statistical analyses (A) or actual means (B), in ewes fed E− or E+ fescue seed from d 35 to 85 and/or d 85 to parturition. a,b Superscripts denote differences (p < 0.05) by day of gestation.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Carotid luminal area was measured on d 123 ± 7 in ewes fed E− or E+ fescue seed from d 35 to 85 and/or d 85 to parturition. a,b Superscripts denote differences (p < 0.05).
Figure 3
Figure 3
Average plasma glucose (mg/dL) concentrations during gestation in ewes fed E− or E+ seed in gestation. Superscripts denote significance (a,b p < 0.05).
Figure 4
Figure 4
Average plasma insulin (U) concentrations and glucose to insulin ratio during gestation for ewes fed E− or E+ seed. Superscripts denote significance (a,b p < 0.05) by variable.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Average serum non-esterified fatty acid (NEFA; mmol/L) concentrations and RQUICKI values during gestation in ewes fed E− or E+ seed in gestation. Superscripts denote significance (a,b.c p < 0.05) by variable.
Figure 6
Figure 6
Milk production (g/3 h test) in ewes fed E− or E+ seed in MID or LATE gestation. Superscripts denote significance (a,b p < 0.05; d,e p < 0.10) by day of lactation. Milk production data were not normally distributed and were square-root-transformed for statistical analyses (A). Actual means, non-transformed, are also presented for easier understanding and interpretation (B).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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