Hostname: page-component-7dd5485656-6kn8j Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2025-10-31T20:14:39.038Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

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
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

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

Information

Type
Research
Information
Weed Technology , Volume 6 , Issue 3 , September 1992 , pp. 599 - 602
Copyright
Copyright © 1990 by the Weed Science Society of America 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

Article purchase

Temporarily unavailable

References

Literature Cited

1. Blockstein, D. E., Maxwell, B. D., and Fay, P. K. 1987. Dispersal of leafy spurge seeds (Euphorbia esula) by mourning doves (Zenaida macroura). Weed Sci. 35:160–162.Google Scholar
2. Dunn, P. H. 1979. The distribution of leafy spurge (Euphorbia esula) and other weedy Euphorbia spp. in the United States. Weed Sci. 27:509–516.Google Scholar
3. Fisher, C. E. 1947. Present information on the mesquite problem. Tex. Agric. Exp. Stn. Prog. Rep. 1056.Google Scholar
4. Grabe, D. F. (ed.) 1970. Tetrazolium testing handbook for agricultural seeds. Contribution No. 29 to the handbook on seed testing. Assoc. of Official Seed Analysts. 62 p.Google Scholar
5. Harmon, G. W. and Keim, F. D. 1934. The percentage and viability of weed seeds recovered in the feces of farm animals and their longevity when buried in manure. J. Am. Soc. Agron. 26:762–767.Google Scholar
6. Heady, H. F. 1954. Viable seed recovered from fecal pellets of sheep and deer. J. Range Manage. 7:259–261.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
7. Huston, J. E., Rector, B. S., Ellis, W. C., and Allen, M. L. 1986. Dynamics of digestion in cattle, sheep, goats, and deer. J. Anim. Sci. 62:208–215.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
8. Johnston, A. and Peake, R. W. 1960. Effect of selective grazing by sheep on the control of leafy spurge (Euphorbia esula L.). J. Range Manage. 13:192–195.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
9. Lacey, C. A., Fay, P. K., Lym, R. G., Messersmith, C. G., Maxwell, B., and Alley, H. P. 1985. Leafy spurge distribution, biology and control. Mont. State Univ. Coop. Ext. Serv. Circ. 309.Google Scholar
10. Lacey, C. A., Kott, R. W., and Fay, P. K. 1984. Ranchers control leafy spurge. Rangelands 6:202–204.Google Scholar
11. Landgraf, B. K., Fay, P. K., and Havstad, K. M. 1984. Utilization of leafy spurge (Euphorbia esula) by sheep. Weed Sci. 32:348–352.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
12. Lehrer, W. P. Jr. and Tisdale, E. W. 1956. Effect of sheep and rabbit digestion on the viability of some range plants seeds. J. Range Manage. 9:118–122.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
13. Messersmith, C. G., Lym, R. G., and Galitz, D. S. 1985. Biology of leafy spurge. p. 42–56 in Leafy spurge. Monograph series of Weed Sci. Soc. Am., 309 W. Clark St., Champaign, IL 61820.Google Scholar
14. Piggin, C. M. 1978. Dispersal of Echium plantagineum L. by sheep. Weed Res. 18:155–160.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
15. SAS. 1988. SAS users guide: Statistics. SAS Institute Inc. Carey, N.C. Google Scholar
16. Selleck, G. W., Coupland, R. T., and Frankton, C. 1962. Leafy spurge in Saskatchewan. Ecol. Monogr. 32:1–29.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
17. Simao Neto, M. and Jones, R. M. 1987. Recovery of pasture seed ingested by ruminants. 2. Digestion of seed in sacco and in vitro. Aust. J. Exp. Agric. 27:247–251.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
18. Simao Neto, M., Jones, R. M., and Ratcliff, D. 1987. Recovery of pasture seed ingested by ruminants. 1. Seed of six tropical pasture species fed to cattle, sheep and goats. Aust. J. Exp. Agric. 27:239–246.Google Scholar
19. Snedecor, G. W. and Cochran, W. G. 1967. Statistical Methods. Sixth edition. Iowa State University Press, Ames, IA.Google Scholar
20. Thill, D. C., Zamora, D. L., and Kambitsch, D. L. 1986. The germination and viability of excreted common crupina (Crupina vulgaris) achenes. Weed Sci. 34:237–241.Google Scholar
21. Thompson, F., Leistritz, F. L., and Leitch, J. A. 1990. Economic impact of leafy spurge infestations in North Dakota. North Dakota State Univ. Agric. Econ. Rep. 257.Google Scholar