Organic Selenium Reduces Cell Counts and Mastitis in US Dairy Study
07/02/07

Somatic cell counts, mastitis cases and mastitis culling rates were all reduced in US dairy herds where an organic selenium source replaced inorganic selenium in rations, reports Alltech UK ruminant technical manager David Wilde.

Sel-Plex from Alltech
© www.sel-plex.com

In the study involving 25 large scale herds in Florida, USA, inclusion in rations of the recently EU-approved organic selenium Sel-Plex resulted in a marked reduction in somatic cell counts when compared with herds receiving supplementation in the form of the inorganic source sodium selenite.

According to Mr Wilde, the greatest differential in cell counts between treated and untreated herds occurred during the summer months, when high temperatures created greater levels of stress for the cows. He says reduced numbers of clinical mastitis cases present similarly strong evidence of the impact of improved selenium supplementation.

“Over a period of 12 months there was a 16% reduction in mastitis cases and culling due to mastitis was 47% lower in the herds that received Sel-Plex.

“Florida has very similar background selenium levels to the UK, so there is no reason why dairy farmers in this country should not see a similar response to improved selenium status.”

Sel-Plex, which has been approved for use as a feed additive in the USA since April 2004, received EU-approval in December 2006.

Sel-Plex - the Only Organic Selenium Authorised for use in the European Union
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