Control of goitre in lambs by injection of ewes with iodized poppy seed oil

Abstract

The value of a single injection of 1 ml of iodized poppy seed oil in ewes was examined to prevent goitre in their lambs in an iodine deficient area in northern Tasmania. Control of goitre was achieved for only two years as assessed by thyroidal radio-iodine uptake in the ewe and histological changes in the lamb's thyroid. On a group basis the slope of the radio-iodine uptake curve in ewes was found to give an accurate reflection of the animals' iodine status as shown by the lambs' thyroid histology. The treatment had no effect on liveweight gain or fleece growth in lambs, but in the year after the treatment the ewes had a 6% increase in fleece weight.