Use of Selenium for White Muscle Disease in Lambs

New Zealand Journal of Agriculture, Volume 98, Issue 3, 16 March 1959, Page 252

Use of Selenium for White Muscle Disease in Lambs

Encouraging Results Obtained from

By

C. DRAKE,

Scientific Officer, A. B. GRANT, Principal Scientific Officer,

and W. J. HARTLEY, Pathologist, all of the Department of Agriculture Animal Research Station, Wallaceville

IN the past lambing season serious losses were experienced from white I muscle disease in lambs in many areas of the South Island. In previous years most of the losses occurred in lambs between 3 and 6 weeks of age, out this year in addition there were widespread losses, particularly in Central Otago, from a congenital form of white muscle disease. Affected lambs were either born dead or died within 2 or 3 days of birth, with severe changes in the heart and sometimes also in the limb muscles. A further feature of the outbreaks seen in Otago was the associated high incidence (up to 50 per cent) of empty ewes.

IT has been known for many years that vitamin E deficient diets have been associated with muscular diseases and reduced fertility, particularly in small laboratory animals. For this reason vitamin E in the form of alphatocopherol acetate has been widely used in New Zealand for the treatment of white muscle disease in lambs. No controlled field trials have been carried out, but affected lambs appear to benefit from alpha-tocopherol acetate therapy. Unfortunately dosing the pregnant ewe with alphatocopherol acetate will not prevent white muscle disease occurring in the lamb. New Zealand Trials

Recent work in the U.S. has shown that selenium can replace vitamin E in certain deficient diets. Following on this report Wallaceville workers in cooperation with Veterinarians and Livestock Instructors have carried out limited selenium trials on properties in the South Island where white muscle disease occurred. Lambs on 16 properties were divided into three equal groups at docking, One group received 1 milligram of selenium (as sodium selenate), one group received 300 . milligrams of alpha-tocopherol acetate, and the third group received no treatment. On seven

properties the selenium and alphatocopherol acetate were given as one injection; in the remainder these agents were given by mouth weekly until the lambs were from 2 to 3 months old. White muscle disease appeared on 11 of the properties, but in no instance were there severe outbreaks. The table shows quite clearly that vitamin E had some effect in controlling white muscle disease, while

selenium almost completely prevented it. CASES OF WHITE MUSCLE DISEASE Selenium j Vitamin E groups j groups Controls .2 21 50 Very recently workers in the U.S., under carefully controlled experimental conditions, have shown that selenium supplementation of the diet of the pregnant and lactating ewe will pievent white muscle disease appearing in the lamb.

Future Trials This year, in addition to carrying, lather controlled selenium dosing trials in lambs at docking, it is also intended to investigate the effect of selenium in reducing the high incidence of empty ewes on white muscle disease properties and in reducing or S*. t ? e ,„f5 e ' natal , ad E ° st " natal , forms of white muscle disease. . It Is also hoped to carry out controlled treatment trials in which selenium and vitamin E will be used on lambs affected with white muscle disease.

Farm Use of Selenium Not Yet Recommended The initial trials using selenium in the control of white muscle disease are most encouraging. The amount of selenium that has been used to control white muscle disease is extremely minute, but there is another point that needs very careful watching. Not

very much more selenium than is needed to cure the disease will be poisonous to sheep. A great deal more laboratory and field investigationwill be required before it will be possible to define more accurately a dose rate of selenium that is practicable, safe, and effective. Farmers and veterinarians are therefore recommended in the meantime to continue to treat cases of white muscle disease with alpha-tocopherol acetate.

if Book Review ■ gj I ITniliHIHIHld P “Soil and Agriculture of Oroua Downs, Taikorea, and Glen Oroua Districts, Manawatu County”: J. D. Cowie and B. A. J. Smith r B ’HIS, Bulletin 16, is the most recent -*• addition to the bulletins published by the Soil Bureau of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research giving details of soils of a particular area. The bulletin deals with a portion of the sand country, which covers approximately 210,000 acres, on the west coast of the North Island. After describing the district covered by the survey Cowie deals briefly with the topography, vegetation, and climate of the area. The classification and utilisation of the soils are covered as well as problems associated with their present utilisation. There are also sections on horticulture, soil erosion, and the chemical analysis of the soils. The agricultural notes were contributed by B. A. J. Smith, Fields Instructor, Department of Agriculture, Hawera. These bulletins contain much information of interest to farmers and are particularly valuable to anyone contemplating the purchase of land in a locality covered by a survey. —R.H.S. Government Printer, Wellington. 12s. 6d.