Selenium in soils, pastures and animal tissues in relation to the growth of young sheep on a marginally selenium-deficient area

Authors: Andrews ED, Hogan KG, Sheppard AD
Publication: New Zealand Veterinary Journal, Volume 24, Issue 6, pp 111-116, Jun 1976
Publisher: Taylor and Francis

Animal type: Livestock, Production animal, Ruminant, Sheep
Subject Terms: Diet/rations/food, Growth/development, Nutrition/metabolism, Selenium, Trace elements, Soil/sand
Article class: Scientific Article

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Abstract: Selenium responsive diseases of farm animals in New Zealand have been reviewed by Andrews et al (1968). In sheep, these may be manifested as infertility in ewes, as “congenital” or “delayed” white muscle disease in lambs, or as unthriftiness, a condition usually more apparent in young animals. As evidenced by weight responses of lambs to dosing with selenium salts, selenium-responsive unthriftiness has occurred widely in New Zealand (Robertson and During, 1961). Most investigations into selenium-responsive conditions, e.g., Cousins and Cairney, 1961; Hartley, 1967; A. B. Grant, pers. comm.) have related mainly to areas that could be described as severely selenium-deficient. Before the, present work was undertaken analysis of pasture samples taken at the Wallaceville Animal Research Centre had suggested that selenium concentrations might be sufficiently low to limit the growth rates of young sheep (A. B. Grant, pers. comm). It was important to confirm this since extensive areas of soils pedologically similar to the Wallaceville soils, occur elsewhere in New Zealand. This paper reports the results of trials relating weight responses to selenium concentrations in soils, pastures and animal tissues.

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