Influence of blood serum selenium on udder health in dairy cows

Abstract

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of selenium concentration in early lactation on mammary gland health and histological characteristics of the udder. The experiment included 30 high-yielding Holstein-Friesian cows. Selenium concentrations in blood and milk serum, and the average somatic cell count in the first and sixth months of lactation were analyzed. After exclusion of the experimental cows from the herd, histological characteristics of the udder were examined (the degree of leukocyte infiltration and the number of granulomas in the parenchyma). The mean selenium concentration in the blood serum was 0.62±0.11 mmol/L and that in the milk serum was 0.12±0.07 mmol/L. Optimal blood levels of selenium were found in 19 cows and suboptimal levels in 11 cows. A significant negative correlation was observed between blood and milk selenium concentrations and somatic cell count in early and mid lactation. There was no relationship between blood selenium concentration, milk selenium concentration and the amount of milk produced. Selenium-deficient cows had a significantly higher milk somatic cell count in early and mid lactation and significantly lower levels of selenium in milk. Upon histological analysis, 120 samples of individual quarters of the udder were grouped according to the degree of leukocyte infiltration and number of granulomas. Results showed that an increase in the degree of leukocyte infiltration and number of granulomas leads to an increase in the proportion of quarters from selenium-deficient cows and a decline in the percentage of quarters from cows exhibiting normal blood selenium concentrations. Selenium has a significant impact on udder health. Changes caused by selenium deficiency occur due to marked inflammation process in the mammary gland.

Injectable organic and inorganic selenium in dairy cows – Effects on milk, blood and somatic cell count levels

“…This finding correlated with other research that indicated peak selenium concentration in blood and serum 5 h post intramuscular injection of selenium that lasted for 28 days (Arthington et al 2014). No significant differences in average serum selenium values post injection with Se-methionine were indicated in this trial, which was similar to findings of Pechova et al (2008) and Davidov et al (2014). However, these findings differ from those of Prased and Aora (1991) that indicated an increase in blood selenium levels following orally supplemented Se-methionine.…”

“…The injection of Na-selenite also led to a negative correlation between average milk selenium concentration and average SCC over the 60-day trial period. This finding corresponds with literature stating that bulk tank milk selenium concentration responds rapidly to changes in selenium intake (Ceballos-Marques et al 2012; Davidov et al 2014), but the results do not correlate with research done by Alejandro et al (2012), which indicated that there was no relationship between bulk tank selenium concentrations and SCC. The untreated control cows showed a constant percentage increase in average SCC compared with the groups of cows that were injected with Na-selenite for the duration of the trial.…”

“…Research shows that selenium supplemented orally in the form of Na-selenite would have to be fed at toxic levels to the cow before there would be any measurable increase of selenium in milk (Fisher, Hoogendoorn & Montemurro 1980), which correlates with the results of the injectable Na-selenite in this trial. Previous research by Davidov et al (2014) indicated a negative correlation between serum selenium concentrations and SCC. High serum selenium concentrations were associated with reduced rates of mastitis and lower bulk tank SCC in Ohio dairy herds (Ganda et al 2016; Shen et al 1999).…”

Udder health, conceptual construct, and uses of the term: A systematic review from 1962 to 2019

“…[ 82 ] found that the repeated parenteral administration of a product containing Vitamin E and Se to pregnant dairy cows showed a positive effect on the immune response, increasing the concentrations of alpha-tocopherol and Se in plasma and colostrum, as well as a reduction of clinical forms of mastitis post-calving. Selenium-deficient cows had greater SCC, exhibited inflammatory processes in the udder (stronger immune infiltration of parenchymal cells), inflammation in the parenchyma of the mammary gland (acinar atrophy, connective tissue proliferation, and granuloma formation) [ 83 ]. When included selenium in the diet, the prevalence of intramammary infection and SCC decreases [ 84 - 86 ].…”