Selenium and Vitamin E and Incidence of Retained Placenta in Parturient Dairy Cows

Abstract

In a 2 .times. 2 .times. 2 factorial experiment, protein intake, Se supplementation, and intake of P were related to the incidence of retained placenta in cows fed varying concentrations of these nutrients during the dry period. The population incidence of 38% retained placenta in 26 control cows was independent of P intake which ranged between 39-95 g/day. When a protein supplement was included in the concentrate as soybean meal, the incidence of retained placenta was reduced to 20% for supplemented animals from 50% for the animals that received no soybean meal. This increased protein in the ration was reflective of a mean increase from .02 ppm of Se to .06 ppm of Se in the ration. By increasing the mean daily intake of Se at least 3 wk prepartum from .23 mg to .92 mg daily, overall incidence of retained placenta was reduced from 38% to 0%. A positive prophylactic effect was achieved regardless of whether .alpha.-tocopherol was supplemented as well. These mature dairy cows were deficient in Se, and supplementation of Se reduced the incidence of retained placenta.