Retained Placenta of Holstein Cows Treated with Selenium and Vitamin E

Abstract
An injection of 50 mg of Se as selenite in combination with 680 IU of vitamin E as .alpha.-tocopherol acetate was administered .apprx. 20 days prepartum to Holstein cows in 4 North Carolina [USA] herds within Guilford and Alamance Counties in an attempt to reduce the incidence of retained placenta. This was reduced in cows considered borderline deficient of Se concentration in serum prior to supplementation but the incidence was not reduced by treatment in cows considered adequate or extremely deficient in Se prior to supplementation. Serum Se for cows in each herd was elevated by supplementation.