Influence of Se status on milk Se concentrations in dairy cows

Abstract

Changes in blood and milk selenium (Se) concentrations were measured in dairy cattle grazing Se‐deficient pastures compared with animals grazing the same pasture but given either an intraruminal Se bolus or a barium selenate injection. The Se supplementation significantly increased and maintained the blood Se concentrations (e.g., 342 versus 1113 nmol/1) over 190–265 days during the lactation and also increased milk Se concentrations 2‐fold (e.g., 77.2 versus 132.3 nmol/1).

Keywords:

• dairy cows
• blood
• milk
• selenium