Pine Needle Water Extracts as Potential Abortive Agents in Gestating Cow Diets

Abstract

A number of bovine abortions were reported during warm spells of the winter of 1974 in the southern interior of British Columbia. Observers speculated that the frequent thawing periods produced a run-off which extracted and accumulated abortive agents from the pine needle litter. In a test of this hypothesis, five pregnant cows each consumed extract from 200 to 300 kg ponderosa pine needles during their last trimester. No pre-partum effects were observed and five normal calves were delivered.