Geomedical Studies on Selenium Toxicity in Bovines

Abstract

Selenium (Se) in small amounts is essential to animal health (8), but is toxic in larger amounts. Although, Se is a nonessential element for plants, yet its concentration in plants is critical to animal health. Invariably, feeding of selenium rich fodders ends in chronic selenium toxicity in animals. Typical selenium toxicity symptoms in animals and plants were observed in seleniferous regions of Punjab, India (5). Hoof and horn abnormalities in buffaloes, cattle and goats were associated with selenium toxicity (5,6). The present study was, therefore, planned to establish the linkage between the selenium content of soils and fodders and that in blood, hair and hooves of animals. The effect of toxic levels of Se on clinical status and haematological indices was also investigated.