Selenium and animal health

Abstract

Extract

Unthriftiness in both weaned and unweaned lambs is probably the most important cause of economic loss in the New Zealand sheep industry. Although some of this unthriftiness is directly associated with under-feeding, most of it occurs in lambs grazing on abundant pasture which is presumed to be highly nutritious. Known causes of unthriftiness in lambs on this kind of pasture are cobalt deficiency and internal parasitism. However, it is commonly accepted that these account for only a part of the unthriftiness experienced.