Production and physiological effects of perennial ryegrass alkaloids under thermoneutral conditions in Merinos
M. L. E. Henry A C , S. Kemp A , I. J. Clarke B , F. R. Dunshea A and B. J. Leury A
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Vic. 3010, Australia.
B Department of Physiology, Monash University, Clayton, Vic. 3800, Australia.
C Corresponding author. Email: mlhenry@unimelb.edu.au
Animal Production Science 56(10) 1629-1636 https://doi.org/10.1071/AN14731
Submitted: 1 August 2014 Accepted: 14 April 2015 Published: 8 July 2015
Abstract
A confined feeding study was conducted to compare the production and physiological effects of feeding three doses of wild-type perennial ryegrass alkaloids via whole seed to Merino sheep housed under thermoneutral conditions (21°C, 50% relative humidity). Eighteen Merino ewe weaners (16 months; initial bodyweight 47 ± 1.94 kg) were offered Nil, Low (50 µg/kg liveweight ergovaline, 22 µg/kg liveweight lolitrem B) or High (100 µg/kg liveweight ergovaline, 44 µg/kg liveweight lolitrem B) doses of alkaloids for 21 days. Dry matter intake tended (P = 0.072) to decrease in a linear manner with increasing dietary alkaloid concentration. Rectal temperature and respiration rate increased (P = 0.002 for both) in a linear manner with increasing dietary alkaloid concentration. Oxygen consumption increased linearly (P = 0.064) and quadratically (P = 0.015) with increasing alkaloid concentration, being highest in the Low dose and intermediate in the High dose group. Plasma prolactin decreased linearly (P = 0.002) with increasing dietary alkaloids. These data clearly show that animal production and efficiency are compromised when sheep consume perennial ryegrass alkaloids, even over a short period of time. This study indicates that a pyrogenic response can occur when alkaloids are consumed, even under thermoneutral conditions.
Additional keywords: hyperthermia, mycotoxin, Neotyphodium lolli, ryegrass staggers, sheep.
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