title: Effect of feeding selenium-fertilized alfalfa hay on performance of weaned beef calves.
abstract: Selenium (Se) is an essential micronutrient in cattle, and Se-deficiency can affect morbidity and mortality. Calves may have greater Se requirements during periods of stress, such as during the transitional period between weaning and movement to a feedlot. Previously, we showed that feeding Se-fertilized forage increases whole-blood (WB) Se concentrations in mature beef cows. Our current objective was to test whether feeding Se-fertilized forage increases WB-Se concentrations and performance in weaned beef calves. Recently weaned beef calves (n = 60) were blocked by body weight, randomly assigned to 4 groups, and fed an alfalfa hay based diet for 7 wk, which was harvested from fields fertilized with sodium-selenate at a rate of 0, 22.5, 45.0, or 89.9 g Se/ha. Blood samples were collected weekly and analyzed for WB-Se concentrations. Body weight and health status of calves were monitored during the 7-wk feeding trial. Increasing application rates of Se fertilizer resulted in increased alfalfa hay Se content for that cutting of alfalfa (0.07, 0.95, 1.55, 3.26 mg Se/kg dry matter for Se application rates of 0, 22.5, 45.0, or 89.9 g Se/ha, respectively). Feeding Se-fertilized alfalfa hay during the 7-wk preconditioning period increased WB-Se concentrations (P Linear<0.001) and body weights (P Linear = 0.002) depending upon the Se-application rate. Based upon our results we suggest that soil-Se fertilization is a potential management tool to improve Se-status and performance in weaned calves in areas with low soil-Se concentrations.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon, United States of America. Jean.Hall@oregonstate.edu
authors.forename: Jean A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Hall
authors.forename: Gerd
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bobe
authors.forename: Janice K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Hunter
authors.forename: William R
authors.initials: WR
authors.lastname: Vorachek
authors.forename: Whitney C
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Stewart
authors.forename: Jorge A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Vanegas
authors.forename: Charles T
authors.initials: CT
authors.lastname: Estill
authors.forename: Wayne D
authors.initials: WD
authors.lastname: Mosher
authors.forename: Gene J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Pirelli
mesh_terms: D000821:Animal Feed / Q000032:analysis*; D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D000455:Medicago sativa / Q000737:chemistry*; D012643:Selenium / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood / Q000737:chemistry*; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis; D013997:Time Factors; D014886:Weaning
chemical_list: D012643:Selenium
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