EWES GIVEN SELENIUM

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28938, 4 July 1959, Page 8

EWES GIVEN SELENIUM

Ashburton CountyTrials

The trace element selenium, which shows great promise in controlling white muscle disease in lambs, is being administered to ewes in trials in Mid-Canter-bury this winter. The trials are being conducted by the Ashburton Veterinary Club in conjunction with the Department of Agriculture’s Wallaceville Animal Research Station.

On four properties about halt of 4600 a ewes are being given selenium once a month from joining to determine the effect of selenium on the occurrence of white muscle in the lambs from these ewes and their growth rate and its effect on the incidence of dry ewes and lambing percentages.

All of the four properties have a history of white muscle disease and last season all had a high dry ewe incidence. Where the ewes were known to be dry last year half have been treated with selenium and half left as con/trols. x Due to the toxic nature of selenium the trials are being strictly controlled, according to the senior veterinarian of the Ashburton Veterinary Club, Mr K. G. Haughey. Where lamb flocks apparently suffering from ill-thrift are presented for treatment in the coming season the club hopes to use selenium under control conditions involving weighing to determine whether there is a response and thus, in view of its toxicity, whether it should also be administered to the rest of the lambs in a flock.

Where pregnant ewes are wintered on swedes, turnips, rape, chou moellier, or kale for several weeks before lambing, goitre, sometimes accompanied by high death rates, may occur in their lambs. This can be prevented by giving the ewes extra iodine during the last two months before lambing, states the Department of Agriculture. If iodised salt licks are used, these should contain soz of potassium iodate to the ton. However, it is better to dose the ewes with iodine in a drench. . Sufficient drench for 160 doses is made by dissolving Uoz of potassium iodide in 1 gallon of water. Each ewe should receive a 1 fl. oz dose of the resulting solution about two months before lambing and a second similar dose about one month before lambing.