Selenium is an essential trace mineral that’s critical for the health of goats. It plays a role in various biological functions, including the formation of sperm, antioxidant activity, and thyroid hormone metabolism. It also helps prevent cancer and heart disease by reducing levels of homocysteine.
Selenium deficiency is one of the most common nutritional deficiencies in goats, affecting up to 90 percent of all goats. It can lead to poor reproductive performance and birth defects in newborns. In this article, I’ll explore what selenium is and why it’s important in goats, how you can test your goat’s selenium levels, how to treat selenium deficiency in goats and more.
The Importance of Selenium in Goats
Selenium is an essential trace mineral that plays a role in the growth, development, and reproduction of goats. Selenium is also important for immune function.
Excessive selenium levels can be toxic to goats as well as humans. The upper limit of selenium has been set at 0.3 mg/kg of body weight per day by the National Research Council (NRC). This amount should not be exceeded because it may cause toxicity in both species.
How to Test for Selenium Deficiency in Goats
If you suspect that your goats have selenium deficiency, you can test them by taking blood samples. Selenium is an essential mineral that helps with thyroid function and supports the immune system. If a goat has been deficient in selenium for an extended period of time, it may be unable to absorb nutrients effectively due to malabsorption issues. This will cause signs such as poor growth rates, infertility and scours (diarrhea).
If you suspect that your goats are suffering from selenium deficiency or if their results are abnormal, contact a veterinarian immediately.
Causes of Selenium Deficiency In Goats
Selenium deficiency is caused by a lack of selenium in the soil. Selenium deficiency can also occur if goats are fed hay or grain that has been treated with chemicals. Goats who eat hay or grain that has been treated with chemicals may also be deficient. If a goat is fed too much grain, it will consume more than its body needs and not enough selenium will be absorbed from the diet.
Another cause of selenium deficiency is when goats are not allowed to forage for their own food; if this happens on an ongoing basis, it can result in a shortage of this vital mineral in the animal’s diet.
Signs of Selenium Deficiency in Goats
Selenium deficiency can be difficult to detect, but it is important to know that selenium deficiency in goats is detrimental to their health. Selenium is an important mineral for a goat’s health, and it helps them fight off infections. Signs of selenium deficiency in goats include:
- Hoof problems
- Teeth problems
- Hair loss (with excessive shedding)
Treating Selenium Deficiency in Goats
Selenium is a trace mineral that is found in plants, soil, and water. Selenium deficiency is rare in goats because they eat plants and grasses that contain this nutrient. However, if you live in an area where the soil has low levels of selenium or your herd eats only hay grown on selenium-deficient land for several months, you may want to supplement your goats’ diet with a source of supplemental selenium.
There are two types of supplements available: sodium selenite (sodium salt) and sodium iodide. Selenite is the form found naturally in some soils but it can be less effective than iodide at increasing blood levels of selenium. Both forms are readily absorbed by the body once ingested; however, iodide tends to be easier on the digestive system than selenite so I recommend using it if possible (but not necessarily exclusively).
How long does it take for selenium to work in goats?
Selenium is a slow acting nutrient and you may not be able to see a difference in your goat’s health for 2-6 weeks. If the selenium deficiency is severe, it can take up to 3 months for symptoms to resolve. Once the selenium deficiency has been reversed, however, you should notice that your goat’s hair will grow back within 1-2 months of starting the supplement. Be sure not to overdo it on the supplementation; too much selenium can cause problems just as easily as too little.
What happens if a goat gets too much selenium?
Selenium toxicity occurs when a goat consumes too much selenium over a short period of time. This can happen if you have too much selenium in the soil, or if you feed your goat a diet that is higher in selenium than normal.
Signs of Selenium Toxicity In Goats:
- Pale colored urine and feces
- Loss of appetite
- Blindness (if severe)
Sources of Selenium For Goats
Selenium is a trace mineral that can be found in foods and supplements, as well as injected into the bloodstream. The most common sources of selenium for goats include:
Selenium-rich foods, such as alfalfa hay, clover hay, grass hays and grains. If you’re feeding your goat a grass or alfalfa based diet, check the nutrition label to see how much selenium is in the product. Make sure it meets or exceeds the NRC requirements for goats (2 ppm).
Selenium supplements: make sure to follow package directions when administering these products to your goat.
Selenium is an important nutrient for goats.
Selenium is an essential trace mineral that plays a vital role in proper growth and development. Selenium deficiency is a common problem in goats, and it can lead to poor health, reduced fertility and other issues.
In conclusion,
Selenium deficiency in goats can be a serious health issue. Selenium is a trace mineral that is required for good health in all animals, including goats. It is important to know what the signs of selenium deficiency are and how long it takes before you see positive results when treating your goats with selenium supplementation.