Selenium in Animal Feed

January 6, 2021 (adapted from Dec 22, 2017)

Selenium in Animal Feed

Selenium (Se) is an important antioxidant mineral in animal feed, and is known to contribute to the reproduction and immune systems.  In many cases, Selenium is deficient in animal feed. Testing feed for Selenium and making balanced supplementation is required.

Selenium deficiency can cause an animal’s weakness, heart failure, abortions and even death.  When animals consume more Selenium than needed, it causes toxic reactions (the window between deficiency and excess are very narrow).  Selenium concentrations should be often checked in Cattle, Sheep, Goats, Horses, Swine and Poultry.  Cattle, Swine and poultry should consume 0.3 – 3.0 ppm (mg per Kg) head/day, Sheep and Goats should consume up to 1ppm and Horses sufficient feed can have 0.1 ppm Se per head per day.

Injections are commonly used in Livestock to supplement Se.  While others make Salt-Mineral supplement mixes or Feed supplemented with Se to increase frequent intake.  Another common way is to add Se in fertilizer or increase Se concentration in Forages (an organic source of Se).

High concentrations of Selenium in Canadian soils are found in Southern Prairies and Ontario.  Selenium is naturally produced in mining regions.

Selenium is an essential nutrient and is used in commercial food.  Selenium content in food results of the soil where crops are produced and animals are raised. High level of Se is found in Brazil nuts, fresh fish and Shellfish, various Bread types, Grain and Cereals.

Our 3RS test package is for Selenium testing in feed.