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Recovery, Germinability, and Viability of Leafy Spurge (Euphorbia esula) Seeds Ingested by Sheep and Goats

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  12 June 2017

John R. Lacey ,
Rosie Wallander  and
Kathrin Olson-Rutz
John R. Lacey
Affiliation:
Animal Range Sci. Dep., Montana State Univ., Bozeman, MT 59717
Rosie Wallander
Affiliation:
Animal Range Sci. Dep., Montana State Univ., Bozeman, MT 59717
Kathrin Olson-Rutz
Affiliation:
Animal Range Sci. Dep., Montana State Univ., Bozeman, MT 59717
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Abstract

Germinability and viability of leafy spurge seeds following ingestion by sheep and goats were evaluated. Four sheep and four goats were separated into eight pens and fed individually a known number of leafy spurge seeds. Following ingestion, goats and sheep passed leafy spurge seeds for 4 and 9 d, respectively. Eighteen percent of the seeds fed were recovered in the fecal material of both species of livestock. Number of seeds recovered, expressed as percent of total seeds fed, decreased with time (P < 0.01). Germinability and viability of the recovered seeds were less than the control (P < 0.01). Sheep were more effective than goats in reducing germinability and viability of leafy spurge seeds (P < 0.01). Results indicate that sheep and goats are effective biological tools for reducing spread of leafy spurge seeds. However, animals grazing mature leafy spurge should be confined for 5 d, until all viable seeds have passed through the digestive system, before they are rotated onto pastures that are devoid of leafy spurge.

Keywords

Leafy spurge, Euphorbia esula L. ♯ EPHESgoats (Capra hircus); and sheep, Ovis ariesBiological controlgrazingweed seed disseminationEPHES
Type
Research
Information
Weed Technology , Volume 6 , Issue 3 , September 1992 , pp. 599 - 602
Copyright
Copyright © 1990 by the Weed Science Society of America 

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