![Sample our Environment & Agriculture journals, sign in here to start your access, latest two full volumes FREE to you for 14 days]({"type":"image" , "src" : "/sda/5934/TOC-Subject-Sample-2021-Environment-Agriculture.jpg"})
Abstract
Extract
Traces of selenium have been shown to be required by animals (Schwarz and Foltz, Citation1957) and to prevent or cure several diseases (Hartley and Grant, Citation1961). As a result, treatment of animals with salts of selenium has become a common practice. In some districts in New Zealand, in which selenium-responsive diseases are known to occur, young cattle are given solutions of selenium salts subcutaneously at dose rates of from 10 to 20 mg of selenium, to prevent the occurrence of white muscle disease and to maintain satisfactory growth rates (Anon., Citation1962). Although selenium is apparently an essential nutrient in trace quantities, excessive intake results in intoxication. Its common use for mass prophylaxis has created the risk of misuse and accidental poisoning. The following report records some features of an accidental occurrence of acute selenium poisoning in which 376 calves died.