The effect of selenium supplementation on milk production in
dairy cattle
A.J. Fraser, T.J. Ryan, R. Sproule; R.G. Clark, D. Anderson and
E.O. Pederson
Ruakura Animal Health Laboratory, Ministry of Agriculture and
Fisheries, Hamilton
Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production.
1987, 47: 61-64
Milk responses to selenium supplementation were measured in 12
dairy herds of low selenium status as indicated by blood selenium
concentrations of less than 150 nmol/l (<12 ug/l). In 4 of the herds
milk responses were measured for 2 successive seasons. Milk volume
responses to selenium varied from -2.6% to +10.4% (mean +4.6%) and milk
fat responses from -4.0% to +10.2% (mean +3.7%). Significant (P<0.05)
milk volume responses occurred on 2 farms in the first season and milk
fat responses on 2 farms in the second season. A negative relationship
(P<0.01) was found between milk fat response (%) to selenium (FatSe) and
blood selenium concentration (nmol/l) (BSe) for herds in their first
season of supplementation of:- FatSe) = 9.6 - 0.059 BSe. There was no
relation between these parameters in the second season of
supplementation.
Keywords: NZSAPAB;
Selenium; dairy; cattle; milk; production; blood
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