The effects of subterranean clover phytoestrogens on sheep growth, reproduction and carcass characteristics

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of a prolonged administration of phytoestrogens on sheep growth rate, female reproductive response, lamb carcass conformation and meat quality. To investigate these effects, two groups of Comisana sheep (24 females and 20 males, initial average live weights of 25.0 and 29.9 kg, respectively) were fed on subterranean clover (SC, phytoestrogen content = 0.8 mg/g of DM) and Italian ryegrass (C, non-oestrogenic control diet) for about one year. Feedstuffs were offered ad libitum and supplemented with maize grain and sunflower meal to maintain an adequate and similar energy and protein intake. The results demonstrated that the prolonged administration of the selected subterranean clover cultivars, with low formononetin content (lower than 10% of total isoflavones on dry basis), did not affect ewe reproduction but induced a significant improvement in animal weigh gain and, in males, good carcass and meat characteristics.