Title: Selenium supplements for grazing sheep. 2. Effectiveness of intra-ruminal pellets
Abstract: Abstract Fe:Se and soluble glass pellets containing Se, Co and Cu were administered to grazing sheep in a series of experiments; whole-blood and plasma Se concentrations were determined at varying intervals, and in some experiments the pellets were recovered, scored for encrustation and incubated in vitro to determine pellet longevity. The effective life of the Fe:Se pellets varied from 1 to 8 years and the quantity of Se released was adversely affected by encrustation, which was significantly reduced in one experiment by the administration of steel grub screws. Differences in longevity could not be explained by encrustation and were not associated with particular brands, but may have been associated with the particle size of the Se used in manufacture, since particle size was large in Experiment 1 in which the pellets were effective for almost 8 years. Soluble glass pellets were as effective as the Fe:Se pellets in the two experiments in which they were evaluated. The glass pellets also contained copper which resulted in excessive hepatic copper concentrations in one experiment. It is suggested that Fe:Se pellets, presently available commercially, should be administered at 18–24-month intervals to overcome uncertainties in the effective life of the pellets.
Publication Year: 1990
Publication Date: 1990-02-01
Language: en
Type: article
Indexed In: ['crossref']
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Cited By Count: 9
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