Maternal Transfer and Retention of Supplemental Selenium in Neonatal Calves

Abstract

Selenium concentrations in blood serum of heifer calves from dams fed 0, 1, or 5mg supplemental selenium daily during the dry period were compared. Dry cows were fed corn silage top dressed with a soybean meal mineral mix containing the desired amount of selenium. At birth, calves were assigned to one of six treatments in a 3 × 2 factorial arrangement. Calf treatments were 0, 1 (at birth), or 2 (at birth and 14 days of age) injections of selenium/vitamin E with feeding of starter commencing at 14 or 28 days of age. Dosage per injection was .078mg selenium and 5.4 IU vitamin E per kilogram body weight. Selenium concentrations of blood serum of cows at parturition were 14, 32, and 58 ppb for cows fed 0, 1, and 5mg selenium per day. Amount of selenium fed to cows affected selenium concentrations in blood serum of their calves with those from cows fed 5mg selenium having the greatest concentrations. Calves from cows fed no supplemental selenium showed increased selenium in serum at day 28 and 42 when given one or two injections of selenium. Two injections, however, were necessary to elicit a response in calves from cows fed 1mg per day. Selenium in blood serum of calves from cows fed 5mg per day was not elevated when calves were given one or two injections of selenium. Prepartum selenium supplementation of the dam elevated selenium of blood serum in the calf at birth. The increased concentration of selenium in blood serum caused by maternal supplementation reduced the amount of selenium taken up in serum of calves injected with additional selenium.