Selenium and sulfur supplementation to steers grazing tall fescue

Abstract

Forty steer calves averaging 257 kg were allotted to a randomized complete block design experiment containing 10 animals per treatment. Four tall fescue pastures of 5.7 ha each were utilized during the 84-d grazing study. Each pasture treatment block contained 10 calves. Calves were fed a control supplement of 96.9% ground corn and 3.1% trace mineral salt in two pastures, or a sulfur supplement that contained 94.3% ground corn, 3.1% trace mineral salt, and 2.5% elemental sulfur in the remaining two pastures. Each supplement was fed at the rate of 0.45 kg/head daily. One-half of the calves in each pasture were injected with 15 mg selenium (Se) as sodium selenite initially and at 28-d intervals throughout the trial. The treatments were as follows: (1) control-no sulfur, no selenium; (2) selenium, no sulfur; (3) sulfur, no selenium and; (4) selenium plus sulfur. Calf weights were monitored and certain blood parameters measured every 28 d. Average plasma Se values were increased (P < 0.001) from 0.021 ppm in calves not receiving Se to 0.043 ppm in those receiving Se. Plasma urea nitrogen levels were not affected by Se administration, but were lowered (P <0.05) from 16.6 to 15.8 mg/100 mL by sulfur administration. All plasma amino acids measured, except methionine, phenylalanine, argi-nine, and citrulline, were cleared from the blood in response to Se supplementation as reflected by their lower concentrations when compared with other treatment groups. Overall average daily gains were not significantly (P > 0.10) increased by sulfur supplementation, but were increased (P < 0.05) from 0.33 kg/d in calves not receiving Se to 0.43 kg/d in those receiving Se injections. Significant interactions between fulfur and Se were not noted.