Selenium in dairy cattle at Itirapina, SP, Brazil

Abstract

Thirty Holstein cows were assigned to three treatments in a completely randomized block design: a) control; B) 3.0 kg wheat bran/cow/day, as supplement of organic selenium; C) 2.0 mg of inorganic Se/cow/day, as sodium selenite. Inorganic selenium addition (treatment C) increased serum level of the mineral, after four months of application. Calves born from cows in the supplemented treatments (B and C) showed higher serum levels of the element than the other ones. Placental retention rates were 45%. 27% and 9%, respectively in treatments A, B and C. The inorganic selenium supplementation showed to be a recommended measure in the present situation.