Premature bovine parturition induced by ponderosa pine: effects of pine needles, bark and branch tips

Three components of Ponderosa pine trees were administered via gavage to pregnant cows to determine their ability to induce premature parturition. When tips of branches, bark or needles were administered (2.7 kg/day) starting at 250 d of pregnancy, early parturition was induced in an average of 3.4, 5.0 and 9.1 d, respectively, compared to 31.8 d for water gavaged controls (P less than 0.01). Less pine material was required to induce parturition with tips and bark (9.4 and 11.2 kg/cow, respectively) than with needles (25.0 kg/cow P less than 0.05). Cows fed pine material retained fetal membranes longer after parturition; 13.0 d for needles, 10.5 d for bark and greater than 3.0 d for tips versus less than 0.5 d for controls (P less than 0.01). However, 2 of the cows fed tips died within 48 hours after parturition with fetal membranes intact and the other 2 cows fed tips became depressed, pyrexic and emaciated. They survived after extended veterinary care with antibiotic and fluid therapy. Administration of pine materials modified serum progesterone concentration profiles; there was significant elevation in progesterone 1-3 days after pine material was administered. Subsequently, pine material induced a premature decline in progesterone levels prior to parturition, which occurred more rapidly in cows fed bark and tips suggesting a dose response relationship. Pine material also modified serum cortisol concentration profiles; the main difference was a prolonged elevation in cows receiving tips. Branch tips and bark from Ponderosa pine are more potent in inducing parturition than needles.