Selenium status at the end of the grazing season, reproductive performance and degenerative myopathy in beef herds

The objectives of this study were to describe the serum selenium (Se) concentrations of beef cows from herds with varying levels of reproductive success, to examine factors associated with the Se concentrations at the end of the grazing season, and to determine if there were any associations between serum Se and reproductive success or calf viability. In the fall of 2001, 781 serum samples from 66 herds were analyzed as part of a nested case-control study to investigate risk factors for fertility; 10.6% were deficient in Se (< 0.025 ppm) and 86.8% were less than adequate (< 0.08 ppm). Low serum Se was most common in thin cows where feed Se was < 0.2 ppm, and from areas with more precipitation or with black or gray soils. Serum Se at pregnancy testing was not associated with an increased risk of reproductive failure. Lower herd serum Se was associated with increased risk of identifying degenerative myopathy in the subsequent calf crop (P = 0.006).