Review Article

Selenium in the diet of ruminants

Barna Kruzhel, Małgorzata Bąkowska, Stakh Vovk, Ewa Nowakowska, Sergei Pavkovych

Lviv State Agrarian University, Ukraine

West Pomeranian University of Technology, Szczecin, Poland

Institute of Agriculture in the Carpathian Region, National Academy of Agricultural Sciences of Ukraine

1. Acta Sci. Pol. Zootechnica, 13(4), 2014, 5‒16

Abstract. The results of the research show that there is a deficiency in Se in the environment in most regions. It is crucial to supplement selenium deficiency in ruminants from deficient regions as long-lasting lack of this element may lead to many diseases. Selenium serum or blood level can be an indicator of the supply of this element in ruminants (intravitally) as well as its content in the liver and kidneys. The most commonly used criterion for assessing the selenium status in livestock is its serum or blood content. At a low concentration of this element in the serum/blood of ruminants, its supplementation is necessary.

Keywords: diseases, ruminants, selenium