Selenium Deficiencyin Beef Cattle

John Maas, DVM, MS, DACVN, DACVIMExtension Veterinarian

School of Veterinary MedicineUniversity of California, Davis

Selenium Deficiency Syndromes

• White Muscle Disease• Nutritional Myodegeneration• Diarrhea• Illthrift, reduced weight gains• Retained placenta• Abortions• Infertility—cows & bulls• Decreased immune function

Selenium Diagnostics—CattleBlood Se Concentration ppb

• Deficient <50 ng/ml• Marginal 50-80 ng/ml• Adequate 100-350 ng/ml• Toxic 5,000 ng/ml 

Selenium Injections—Cattle

• Bo-Se®, Mu-Se®, Multimin®—sodium selenite is active ingredient

• IM or Sub-Q• Rapid response, short-term partial

supplementation• Maas, Peauroi, Tonjes, et al, J Vet Internal

Med 7:342-348, 1993

Blood Selenium Concentration ug/ml (ppb)

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Selenium Bottom Line• Most common trace mineral deficiency • WMD, Ill-thrift, Reproductive losses,

decreased immune function• Easy to diagnose Se status• Supplements: none perfect—TMR for

dairies, feedlots, feeds, salt mixes, molasses supplements, injections, CA rumen boluses, fertilizers in advanced nations

• Toxicity—local, 50-100X safety margin

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