White Muscle Disease

About: White Muscle Disease is a(n) research topic. Over the lifetime, 165 publication(s) have been published within this topic receiving 2812 citation(s).

Selenium in Crops in the United States in Relation to Selenium-Responsive Diseases of Animals

Abstract: Selenium-responsive diseases of livestock occur frequently in the United States and have been responsible for serious economic losses. White muscle disease (WMD) of lambs and calves is perhaps the most common of these disorders. The occurrence of WMD is related to the geologic nature of the soil parent material (19). There is also evidence that regional patterns of occurrence of WMD are related to regional differences in the Se concentration of feed crops (3). In the U. S., there are also areas where Se toxicity has been evident in livestock. These areas have been studied extensively, and the distribution of geologic formations that form soils capable of producing high-Se plants has been established (14, 17, 21). This report presents a map of the U. S. showing areas where the Se content of plants is adequate to protect animals from WMD, and areas where low levels of Se in plants may lead to Se-responsive diseases in animals, and describes how it was prepared. A similar survey of plant Se levels has been reported from western Australia (9).

Recent progress in the assessment of mineral requirements of goats

Abstract: For a long time, mineral requirements of goats have been extrapolated from those of cattle and sheep. To date advances in goat nutritional research allow more specific mineral recommendations. Endogenous losses of calcium and phosphorus might be more related to dry matter intake than to the bodyweight. True absorption coefficient of P is probably higher for goats (70–75%) than for other ruminant species. Calcium and phosphorus requirements for pregnancy are higher because of the frequency of multiple foetuses. The requirements for growth are lower than for calves. Nevertheless, calcium and phosphorus content of goat milk (1.3 g Ca/l, and 0.9 g P/l, respectively) are very close to those of cow milk. A special attention must be given to sulphur according to fibre production needs. Several results indicate that goats are less sensitive to copper toxicity than sheep and cattle and can tolerate higher levels of Cu in their diets. Goats can also tolerate Mo levels 10 times higher than sheep. The goat sensitivity to iodine deficiency seems to be higher. Particular attention must be given to selenium and copper status of pregnant goats and/or new-born kids because of risk of white muscle disease or swayback.

Selenium in Ruminant Nutrition: A Review

Abstract: The early interest in selenium related primarily to its toxicity, but since 1957 the element has been recognized as a dietary essential. The dietary requirement for selenium by most species is about .1 ppm. Deficiencies of selenium in cattle and sheep have been confirmed under natural grazing conditions in many countries of the world. Overt signs of inadequacy such as white muscle disease (nutritional muscular dystrophy) occur primarily in young calves or lambs born to selenium deficient dams. Infertility has increased in ewes grazing pastures low in selenium. In general, signs of deficiency have not occurred in older animals such as finishing beef cattle and lactating dairy cows. Subclinical deficiencies of selenium are not determined easily, however, and thus an inadequacy of the element may be limiting maximum animal performance under certain circumstances of drylot feeding. The current nutritional status of ruminant animals in many geographical areas and involving various feeding programs with this element has not been established. The recent widespread deficiency problems with nonruminants suggest that such an assessment should be made. Concentration of selenium in tissue, particularly in the liver, has been used in establishing selenium status of the animal. With lambs glutathione peroxidase activity in certain tissues may be a more accurate indicator of selenium adequacy than is selenium content of the tissue. Supplemental sodium selenite and sodium selenate by either oral administration or parenteral injection have prevented clinical signs of selenium deficiency and animal losses in both ruminant and nonruminant animals. Heavy pellets containing elemental selenium for placement in the rumen have proved effective. In general, organic forms of selenium are absorbed more readily by animals than are inorganic compounds. The dietary requirements for selenium and its metabolism are influenced by many nutrient interrelationships, including its interactions with sulfur, lipids, vitamin E, proteins, amino acids, and several microelements. The Food and Drug Administration gave approval in 1974 for the oral administration of supplemental selenium as either sodium selenite or sodium selenate to certain classes of swine and poultry. Similar approval in the United States for ruminants will require additional information, particularly with regard to the influence of dietary intake on concentrations of selenium in tissue and milk in beef and dairy animals.

A Summary of New Findings on the Biological Effects of Selenium in Selected Animal Species-A Critical Review.

Abstract: Selenium is an essential trace element important for many physiological processes, especially for the functions of immune and reproductive systems, metabolism of thyroid hormones, as well as antioxidant defense. Selenium deficiency is usually manifested by an increased incidence of retention of placenta, metritis, mastitis, aborts, lowering fertility and increased susceptibility to infections. In calves, lambs and kids, the selenium deficiency demonstrates by WMD (white muscle disease), in foals and donkey foals, it is associated with incidence of WMD and yellow fat disease, and in pigs it causes VESD (vitamin E/selenium deficiency) syndrome. The prevention of these health disorders can be achieved by an adequate selenium supplementation to the diet. The review summarizes the survey of knowledge on selenium, its biological significance in the organism, the impact of its deficiency in mammalian livestock (comparison of ruminants vs. non-ruminants, herbivore vs. omnivore) and possibilities of its peroral administration. The databases employed were as follows: Web of Science, PubMed, MEDLINE and Google Scholar.