When cows, sheep or horses don’t get enough selenium in their diet, it can contribute to a wide array of health problems including muscular dystrophy, abnormal pregnancies, and hoof issues. But selenium is a tricky nutrient for farmers to administer because it can be toxic even in small doses.
Research by CVM professor Dr. Jean Hall has found that fertilizing livestock hay with selenium is a good way to prevent Se-deficiency without causing toxicity.
Now new research by Dr. Hall, Dr. Jorge Vanegas, Dr. Charles Estill, and others has found that feeding recently-weaned calves selenium-fertilized forage for seven weeks increased their body weight, whole-blood concentration, and general good health.
Because most Oregon soil is Se-deficient, hay grown locally, without selenium fertilizer, usually does not provide enough of the nutrient for optimal animal health.
