Selenium and Weaning Weights of Cattle and Sheep

Abstract

Cattle have been studied over a 2-year period to determine whether intramuscular administration of selenium as sodium selenite prior to and during gestation and lactation affected weaning weights of calves. The percent of calf crop was observed. The cows were on pasture continuously with limited feed supplementation during January through March each year. One group was on sandy soil with clover and bahiagrass pasture containing 0.02 to 0.03 ppm of Se. The other group was on muck soil with Roselawn St. Augustinegrass pasture that analyzed 0.04 to 0.06 ppm of Se. Lambs over a 2-year period were administered selenium either from birth or from 70 days of age at 28-day intervals until slaughtered at market weight to determine the effect on weight gains. In one trial lambs in the feedlot were compared with those on pasture. Lambs during the second year were also assayed for the effect of the selenium on concentration of vitamin A and copper in the liver, hemoglobin and activity of three enzymes in the blood related to muscle dystrophy. The levels of selenium used had no significant effect on any of the factors tested. There were no clinical signs of white muscle disease in any of the cattle or lambs. Copyright © 1966. American Society of Animal Science . Copyright 1966 by American Society of Animal Science