Studies in uterotrophic activities in strains of subterranean clover

Abstract

Uterotrophic responses in ovariectomized ewes when fed or grazed on Mount Barker, Yarloop or Dwalganup varieties of subterranean clover are reported. The high formononetin varieties Dwalganup and Yarloop always elicited a uterotrophic response. The low-formononetin, high-genistein and biochanin A variety, Mount Barker, stimulated a uterotrophic response, using a 5-day bioassay, when fed at 200g/day or 800g/day, but little or no response when grazed. When chopped lucerne hay was offered with 200 g of the Mount Barker the uterotrophic response was suppressed and the mean uterine weight was not significantly different from that of the negative controls (P= 0.57). The uterine weight of sheep eating 200 g/day of Yarloop and offered lucerne chaff or pellets in one experiment was lower (but not significantly lower) than the unsupplemented group. This trend may be worthy of further investigation.