Abstract

Zearalenone is a naturally occurring toxin from the Fusarium fungus which grows on pastures in autumn. The toxin has been found in New Zealand from Northland to Southland (Garthwaite et al., 1994), but high concentrations are particularly common in the Gisborne/East Coast region. The toxin interferes with reproductive function in susceptible sheep (Smith et al., 1986), reducing fertility, ovulation rates and thus lambing percentages. Under research conditions with Romney sheep at Ruakura Research Centre, we have developed a protocol ...Continued

NC, Amyes, and CA Morris

Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production, Volume 68, Brisbane, Australia, 122-123, 2008