Selenium in animal nutrition

Abstract

Only in recent years has the significance of selenium in animal nutrition been acknowledged. Deficiency of the element in the nutrition of ruminants is now known to be associated with certain muscular dystrophy conditions. In Australia these conditions occur more frequently in high rainfall areas and on soils originating in non-sedimentary rocks. They would appear to have been aggravated by certain pasture improvement techniques and by intensive husbandry. Nowadays they are yielding to control by various methods.