The oestrogenic Fusarium toxin (zearalenone) in hay as a cause of early abortions in the cow.

In this study, the occurrence of a series of early abortions in a herd of cattle kept at an experimental station in North Savo has been described, the cause of which has evidently been hay feed in which the toxin zearalenone had formed. Several early abortions occurred in this particular herd 30-90 days after artificial insemination had been performed. It was proved by means of a liquid chromatograph test that the hay contained 10 ppm zearalenone, and a biological experiment with rats gave a clear indication of its oestrogenic strength by means of the chloroform extract obtained with the hay. Early abortions ceased to occur after feeding with the suspected feed was discontinued. The cows were on heat again 2-23 days after the early abortions had occurred, though they subsequently experienced difficulties in becoming pregnant.