Selenium supplementation and selected immune responses of beef cattle

The effect of selenium (Se) supplementation, by ad libitum salt-mineral mixture (SMM) and/or Se injection, on bovine immune response was evaluated in three experiments. Sixty weaned beef calves, with marginal blood Se (67 μg Se/1), were allotted to one of six Se treatment groups in a 70-day experiment. Antibody responses to lysozyme were lower in calves fed 20 ppm Se salt-mineral mixture (SMM) ad libitum as compared to calves fed 20 ppm Se SMM and injected with 0.1 mg Se + 1.0IU vitamin E/kg body weight, IM, or with calves ad libitum fed 80, 120, 160, or 200 ppm Se SMM. Blood Se on day 70 was higher in calves fed 80, 120, 160, or 200 ppm Se SMM than calves fed 20 ppm Se and injected with 0.1 mg Se + 1.0 IU vitamin E/kg of body weight, IM.

An ad libitum 120 ppm Se SMM was compared to Se injection in 80 mid-gestation beef cows that were Se-deficient (50 μg Se/l blood). Supplementation with 120 ppm Se SMM increased blood Se in cows and calves to > 100 μg/l, increased IgG concentrations in colostrum, and increased IgG concentrations in serum of post-suckle calves. Calves from Se-adequate dams had higher Se concentrations in blood and higher average daily gains at 60 days than Se-deficient calves injected with Se at birth.

An ad libitum 120 ppm Se SMM was compared to Se injection in 60 Se-deficient (41 μg Se/l blood) weaned beef calves in a 56-day experiment. Calves fed 120 ppm Se SMM and unsupplemented control calves had higher antibody responses to lysozyme than calves injected with 0.1 mg Se + 1.0 IU vitamin E/kg body weight. Blood Se concentrations increased in calves fed 120 ppm Se SMM, did not change in calves injected with 0.1 mg Se/kg body weight, and decreased in control calves. Se treatment did not affect IgA response in tears of calves.