Abstract

Three groups of pregnant (3rd trimester) cows grazing low Se pastures were given daily Se intakes of 0.44, 0.94 and 1.44mg respectively as pasture plus a drench. A significant relationship between blood Se concentration (nmol/l) [y] and daily Se intakes (mg/day) [x] was described by the equation Y=147(44.0+(359(42.1)X***. Given that a mean blood Se concentration of 250 nmol/l reflects an adequate Se status, that is there is no production response to Se supplementation, then the daily Se intake of pregnant cows was determined to be 0.29mg or pasture should contain 0.037mg Se/kg DM to prevent Se deficiency.

PA, Speck, KK Singh, BC Thomson, PM Dobbie, GK Mercer, JJ Bass, N Simmons, B Binnie, and N Clarke

Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production, Volume 55, , 123, 1995