Selenium in Cattle: A Review

Abstract

This review article examines the role of selenium (Se) and the effects of Se supplementation especially in the bovine species. Selenium is an important trace element in cattle. Some of its roles include the participation in the antioxidant defense the cattle farms. The nutritional requirements of Se in cattle are estimated at 100 µg/kg DM (dry matter) for beef cattle and at 300 µg/kg DM for dairy cows. The rations high in fermentable carbohydrates, nitrates, sulfates, calcium or hydrogen cyanide negatively influence the organism's use of the selenium contained in the diet. The Se supplementation may reduce the incidence of metritis and ovarian cysts during the postpartum period. The increase in fertility when adding Se is attributed to the reduction of the embryonic death during the first month of gestation. A use of organic Se in feed would provide a better transfer of Se in calves relative to mineral Se supplementation. The addition of Se yeasts in the foodstuffs of cows significantly increases the Se content and the percentage of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) in milk compared to the addition of sodium selenite. The enzyme 5-iodothyronine deiodinase is a seleno-dependent selenoprotein. It is one of the last proteins to be affected in the event of Se deficiency. This delay in response could explain the fact that several studies did not show the effect of Se supplementation on growth and weight gain of calves. Enrichment of Se in the diet did not significantly affect the slaughter weight and carcass yield of bulls. The impact and results of Se supplementation in cattle depend on physiological stage, Se status of animals, type and content of Se and types of Se administration. Further studies in Se supplementation should investigate the speciation of Se in food and yeasts, as well as understanding their metabolism and absorption. This constitute a path to exploit in order to explain certain different effects of Se.

Effects of selenium supplement forms on the diet-cow-calf transfer of selenium in Simmental cattle

“…The 9% decrease of concentration of Se in blood serum of cows (the concentration of Se on day 195 of pregnancy established as 100%) during the last trimester of pregnancy stated in this experiment indicated that Se-deficient cows provide Se to the detriment of their health to ensure adequate intake of the fetus and the newborns, while at the same time their own Se status has been reduced. These data confirm the results that an efficient Se transfer occurs from the pregnant animal to newborns, even in situations of low concentration of the element in the parent (Hefnawy et al 2014;Mehdi and Dufrasne 2016). The results of the present study also showed that under the conditions of selenium deficiency in the diet, despite cow-mother effort, the concentration of Se in blood serum of the calf was found to be by 48% lower than the approved reference values for the newborn calf (estimated as 100%).…”

“…In the 1960s, white muscle disease was diagnosed in young ruminants for the first time, and it was caused by the severe deficiency of Se (Muth et al 1958). Later, the results of the study carried out on cattle have shown that Se supplementation in Se-deficient cows has positive impact on their fertility, immune function, and growth and strengthening of the immune system (reviewed by Mehdi and Dufrasne 2016). The deficiency of Se is especially critical for dams during late pregnancy, when the transfer of Se to doi: 10.17221/86/2016-CJAS the fetus occurs even when dams are deficient in Se (Enjalbert et al 1999;Hefnawy et al 2014).…”

Organic food consumption during pregnancy is associated with different consumer profiles, food patterns and intake: the KOALA Birth Cohort Study

“…Another possible limitation of the present study concerns the quantification of macronutrients and micronutrients in the various organic groups. Food composition tables generally do not account for differences in organic origin (except for specialty products, which were included in our FFQ to also cover organic and 'alternative' products), although a few observations suggest that at least some organic food products may contain different levels of several nutrients (20)(21)(22)(23)(24)(25)(26)(27)(28) . Since the generalizability of these differences in nutrient content remains uncertain and most of the observed differences were minor, they are, however, not likely to have strongly influenced our calculations.…”

Selen v rastlinah in v okolju v Sloveniji / Selenium compounds in plants and in biosphere in Slovenia

“…Dostopnost selena v zadostnih količinah v prehrani živine zagotavlja normalno delovanje njihovega imunskega sistema in reprodukcije. Večje vsebnosti selena v krmi posredno vplivajo tudi na večje koncentracije le-tega v mleku in mesu, ki ga zaužije človek (Mehdi & Dufrasne 2016).…”