THE ESTROGEN-LIKE SUBSTANCES IN CERTAIN LEGUMES AND GRASSES: II. THE EFFECT OF STAGE OF MATURITY AND FREQUENCY OF CUTTING ON THE ESTROGENIC ACTIVITY OF SOME FORAGES

Abstract

The seeding year’s growth of alfalfa, ladino clover and birdsfoot trefoil has been shown to be essentially free of estrogenic activity. Uninterrupted second-year growth of alfalfa and ladino clover displays relatively high activity in the spring, little or none in mid-summer, and an intermediate level of activity in the autumn. Sequential cutting leads to a modification of this pattern. The presence of slight activity in birdsfoot trefoil and the absence of activity in orchard grass has been demonstrated.