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Effects of Supplementary Selenium Source on the Blood Parameters in Beef Cows and Their Nursing Calves

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Abstract

Over 2 years, 32 beef cows nursing calves in southwest Arkansas were randomly selected from a herd of 120 that were managed in six groups and were assigned to six 5.1-ha bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon [L.] Pers.) pastures. Treatments were assigned to pastures (two pastures/treatment) and cows had ad libitum access to one of three free-choice minerals: (1) no supplemental selenium (Se), (2) 26 mg of supplemental Se from sodium selenite per kilogram, and (3) 26 mg of supplemental Se from seleno-yeast per kilogram (designed mineral intake = 113 g/cow daily). Data were analyzed using a mixed model; year and pasture were the random effects and treatment was the fixed effect. At the beginning of the calving and breeding seasons, cows supplemented with Se had greater (P < 0.01) whole blood Se concentration (WBSe) and glutathione peroxidase activities (GSH-Px) than cows receiving no supplemental Se; cows fed seleno-yeast had greater (P ≤ 0.05) WBSe than cows fed sodium selenite, but GSH-Px did not differ (P ≥ 0.25) between the two sources. At birth and near peak lactation (late May), calves from cows supplemented with Se had greater (P < 0.01) WBSe than calves from cows fed no Se and calves from cows fed seleno-yeast had greater (P ≤ 0.01) WBSe and GSH-Px than calves from cows fed sodium selenite. Thyroxine (T4), triiodothyronine (T3), and the T4:T3 ratio in calves did not differ among treatments (P ≥ 0.35). At birth, insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) was greater (P = 0.02) in calves nursing cows with no supplemental Se than in ones with supplemental Se; in calves nursing cows with supplemental sodium selenite, IGF-1 did not differ (P = 0.96) from ones offered supplemental seleno-yeast. Selenium supplementation of gestating beef cows benefited cows and calves by increasing WBSe and GSH-Px. The use of seleno-yeast as a Se supplement compared to sodium selenite increased the WBSe of both cows and their calves without affecting the T4 to T3 conversion or IGF-1 concentrations.

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Abbreviations

GSH-Px:

Glutathione peroxidase activity

Hb:

Hemoglobin

IGF-1:

Insulin-like growth factor 1

Se:

Selenium

T4 :

Thyroxin

T3 :

Triiodothyronine

WBSe:

Whole blood Se concentration

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Acknowledgments

This project was conducted in part with a gift from Alltech, Inc. (Nicholasville, KY USA). Mention of trade names or commercial products in this article is solely for the purpose of providing specific information and does not imply recommendation or endorsement by the USDA. Appreciation is expressed to the National Hormone and Peptide Program and Dr. Parlow for supplying reagents used in the IGF-1 radioimmunoassay.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Agricultural Research Service, Southern Plains Range Research Station, USDA, Woodward, OK, 73801-5415, USA

    Stacey A. Gunter

  2. Southwest Research and Extension Center, Division of Agriculture, University of Arkansas, Hope, AR, 71801-9729, USA

    Paul A. Beck

  3. Department of Animal and Range Sciences, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM, 88003-8003, USA

    Dennis M. Hallford

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  1. Stacey A. Gunter
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  2. Paul A. Beck
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  3. Dennis M. Hallford
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Correspondence to Stacey A. Gunter.

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Gunter, S.A., Beck, P.A. & Hallford, D.M. Effects of Supplementary Selenium Source on the Blood Parameters in Beef Cows and Their Nursing Calves. Biol Trace Elem Res 152, 204–211 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-013-9620-0

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