INFLUENCE OF SELENIUM ON THE SELENIUM CONTENTS OF HAIR AND ON THE INCIDENCE OF NUTRITIONAL MUSCULAR DISEASE IN BEEF CATTLE

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Abstract
In this study, the selenium content of forage from farms in northern Ontario where nutritional muscular disease is very severe was less than 0.1 p.p.m. Variations in the sulphur content of forage did not appear to affect the occurrence of the disease. A combination of vitamin E and selenium given to pregnant dams or directly to calves was completely effective in preventing the disease. Data on the selenium content of the hair of dams and calves are presented. Calves, sick or dead from white muscle disease, were born to cows with low selenium content of the hair (range 0.06–0.23 p.p.m.). No white muscle disease was observed in calves from dams with selenium content of the hair above 0.25 p.p.m. Selenium content of the hair was generally greater in the selenium-treated calves or those born to selenium-treated dams. It seems probable that the selenium content of hair may be a helpful factor in diagnosing white muscle disease.