Selenium is an essential mineral for cattle of all ages. It’s used for immune function, growth and fertility. Signs of selenium deficiency can include poor growth, reduced fertility, decreased milk production, and white muscle disease (stiffness and weakness in very young animals).
There are multiple forms of selenium supplementation available to farmers: oral, injectable and pour on.
The majority of cows will be supplemented orally with selenium via the dosatron, which is an easy way to administer selenium to the whole herd.
Youngstock are mainly given injectables or pour ons that are administered when they’re yarded. However, pour on products can have varied absorption as the dose can be altered by external factors (such as rain washing it off or animals licking it off each other). This makes them less effective. Therefore, injectable selenium is the recommended form for individual administration.
There are a range of injectable products. Some are straight selenium and some are combined with B12 – and they all of have different durations of effectiveness. It’s important to know which one to use when.
Short-acting selenium only lasts for 4-6 weeks. It’s usually given regularly to youngstock throughout summer, often at the same time as drenching. Sometimes it’s given to cows when they come back to the farm after grazing away over wintertime.
Long-acting selenium lasts up to 12 months. It’s usually given to youngstock before winter to cover them for the whole cold and wet season.
Remember, selenium toxicity from over-supplementing is a risk. This can be caused by choosing the wrong product, inaccurate dosing, or using multiple forms of selenium at once.
We can do some blood tests to determine what your stock’s selenium levels are and if supplementation is required. Testing allows you to target treatment with the right product at the right time.
In summary, there are many types of selenium supplementation available, but product choice and timing are very important. Get in touch with your KeyVet if you’d like advice specific to your animals and farming system.
