Selenium levels of beef cattle in southeastern british columbia relative to supplementation and type of pasture

Moderate to extremely low levels of selenium in hay were related to marginally deficient levels of selenium in sera from cattle in the Windermere Valley of southeastern British Columbia. Deficiency was most pronounced in cattle fed local hay during the winter or grazed on fertilized/irrigated pastures. Cattle on range had adequate levels of serum selenium. When sodium selenite was fed at 1.0 and 3.5 mg per head per day, serum selenium levels increased commensurate with the dose. Clinical observations indicated that a variety of clinical problems disappeared after injection or supplementation with selenium/vitamin E.