Beef Calf Deficiencies in Practice

Abstract

One of the most serious and economically important deficiencies of beef calves in my practice is selenium deficiency. The area is in a mountain valley in Western Montana. Soils vary greatly within a quarter to half mile.

When I first entered practice in 1958, vitamin E was used widely in capsule form in the prevention of white muscle disease with a fair degree of success, but it failed to control the disease as effectively as desired. During the past 25 years, the deficiency has increased in severity, occurring on ranches that previously were not troubled with the problem. With the advent of commercial fertilizers, primarily phosphates and sulfates, it has been shown that these prohibit the forage from utilizing the element selenium in an already borderline deficient soil. I do not recommend the cessation of using commercial fertilizers because of benefits received in the quantity and quality of feeds.