BackgroundThis study was performed to demonstrate the widespread distribution and severity of selenium (Se) deficiency in sheep flocks and to evaluate the impact of influencing factors. In 150 flocks, ten serum samples of adult ewes were analysed for Se concentration. The farmers were interviewed concerning flock size, provision of mineral supplement, predominant form of husbandry (stationary fenced pasture/transhumance), predominant form of water provision (tap water/well/surface water) and predominant soil (sandy, silty/loamy, clay) in the area. The location of the flock was recorded as well as the production stage/season at the time of sampling. Intra-group variation and the validity to analyse pooled samples were tested.ResultsPools of five samples correlated well with the mean of individually analysed samples. The intra-group range of serum Se concentration varied enormously (mean 45.4 ± 18.8 μg Se/l). About 60% of the flocks showed mean serum Se concentrations below 80 μg/l, 37.4% were below 60 μg Se/l, representing a Se deficient stage. Using mineral supplement in general was no key factor for Se status. Stationary flocks on fenced pasture had constantly higher mean serum Se concentrations during breeding (outdoors, August-November), lambing (mainly indoors, December-March) and lactation (outdoors, April-July), whereas flocks practising transhumance had significantly lower Se status, except during lambing. There was no significant correlation between the soil type and the Se status, but flocks in Southern Germany tend to show a lower Se status compared to Central and Northern Germany. Increasing flock size was associated with lower mean serum Se concentrations. In stationary flocks only, the use of surface water was accompanied by significantly lower Se status.ConclusionSe deficiency is widespread in German sheep flocks. More than one third of the flocks showed Se deficiency, indicating the need to optimise the nutritional management. Factors raising suspicion of Se deficiency are large flocks, transhumance during lactation and the breeding season as well as surface water provision in stationary flocks.
ZusammenfassungEs werden Empfehlungen für die verschiedenen Haltungsformen auf der Basis der gesetzlichen Rahmenbedingungen für die Haltung von Schafen und Ziegen zusammengefasst. Berücksichtigung finden dabei die Wanderschäferei, die Hüte- und Koppelschafhaltung sowie die Alpung. Intensiv wird auf die Belange der Weidehaltung, der Stallhaltung, der Versorgung mit Futter und Wasser, der Geburt, der Lämmeraufzucht und der Gesundheitsvorsorge eingegangen. Dabei werden die Rahmenbedingungen sowohl für die extensive als auch für die intensive Haltung und Nutzung von Schafen und Ziegen abgesteckt. Die speziesspezifischen Kompensationsmöglichkeiten, deren Grenzen und Anzeichen der Dekompensation werden exemplarisch aufgezeigt. Durch die Einhaltung dieser Empfehlungen sollen den in unserer Obhut gehaltenen Nutztieren die „fünf Freiheiten (13)” zuverlässig gewährt werden: 1. Freisein von Hunger und Durst, 2. Freisein von Unbehagen, 3. Freisein von Schmerz, Verletzungen und Krankheiten, 4. Freisein zum Ausleben normaler Verhaltensweisen und 5. Freisein von Angst und Leiden.
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