An assessment of the effects of ruminal selenium pellets given to young sheep grazing selenium-deficient pastures

Authors: Brunswick LFC, Andrews ED, Grant AB
Publication: New Zealand Veterinary Journal, Volume 22, Issue 4, pp 46-50, Apr 1974
Publisher: Taylor and Francis

Animal type: Livestock, Production animal, Ruminant, Sheep
Subject Terms: Abdomen, Alimentary system/gastroenterology, Biosecurity, Diet/rations/food, Disease control/eradication, Epidemiology, Nutrition/metabolism, Research/development, Selenium, Trace elements
Article class: Scientific Article

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Abstract: The ability of a heavy pellet containing cobaltic oxide to release cobalt when lodged in the reticula-rumen of the sheep was first described by Dewey et al (1958). However, investigation has shown that, at least in some situations, treatment with cobaltic oxide pellets may have two disadvantages. First, pellets may acquire a deposit of calcium phosphate, thus tending to seal the pellet off from the reticula-rumen environment (Andrews et al 1958; Dewey et al 1958; Millar and Andrews, 1964). Secondly, some sheep may eventually lose their pellets by regurgitation (Millar and Andrews, 1964). More recently, Australian workers (Kuckel and Buckley, 1969; Handrek and Godwin, 1970) reported that, when given to sheep, similar pellets consisting of 90% finely-divided iron and 10% of elemental selenium enhanced selenium levels in various organs and tissues. Both groups of workers concluded that treatment did not result in excessive accumulation of selenium in edible tissues. However, the possible importance of calcium phosphate coating and/or of pellet rejection could not be assessed from the Australian work, and studies did not include an assessment of the effectiveness of the pellets in controlling a selenium responsive disease. The main aims of the work described in the present paper were to determine whether selenium pellets would increase weight gains of young sheep grazing selenium-deficient pastures, to assess the retention of pellets by sheep, anid to examine the possibility that pellets might acquire deposits of calcium phosphate.

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