Serum selenium concentrations and glutathione peroxidase activities in cattle grazing forages of various selenium concentrations

In cows from 15 dairy herds (n = 210), serum selenium (Se) concentrations ranged from 0.021 to 0.789 microgram/ml, whereas 0.05 to 0.40 microgram/ml is the reported range for adequate serum Se concentrations in cattle. Serum Se concentrations of dairy cattle appeared to follow a geographic distribution pattern. On the basis of herd mean serum Se concentrations, adequate serum Se concentrations were found in cattle from only 1 of 5 herds grazing forage in the geographic area classified as Se deficient for cattle. Adequate mean serum Se concentrations were found in cattle from 4 of 5 herds located in geographic areas described as having variable forage Se concentrations (Se-marginal areas). Of the 10 herds from these 2 areas, there were only 2 herds in which 95% of the cattle had serum Se concentrations in the Se-adequate range (0.05 to 0.40 microgram/ml). In 2 selected neighboring farms in the Se-deficient area, cattle in 1 herd had adequate serum Se concentrations and cattle in the other herd had less than adequate serum Se concentrations (less than 0.05 microgram/ml). Therefore, more cattle are at risk of developing Se-deficiency disease than is commonly believed and forage of neighboring farms may have different Se concentrations. Serum Se concentrations (up to 0.789 microgram/ml) correlated with glutathione peroxidase enzyme activity; this serum Se concentration (0.789 microgram/ml) is approximately 6.2 times higher than previously reported in dairy cattle. Therefore, RBC glutathione peroxidase activity may be useful in determining the diagnosis of chronic Se toxicosis.