Why 2mg of Selenium?
![](https://www.msd-animal-health.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/sites/39/2021/08/Multine-B12-Selenised-no-NEW-2.jpg)
Why Selenium is used.
- Approximately 30% of pastures in New Zealand will not provide adequate Selenium intake for grazing livestock.
- Selenium deficiency causes:
- White Muscle Disease
- Weaner ill-thrift
- Lowered wool production
- Ewe infertility
- Scouring
- Poor lamb growth rates.
Why 2mg is an optimum dose for lambs from tailing.
- Lambs vary in age and weight at tailing, but trials show the majority of NZ lambs weigh in excess of 10kg by 4 weeks of age.1-2
- The recommended dose rate for selenium supplementation from tailing is 0.1-0.2 mg Se/kg liveweight.3
- The 2mg dose of selenium in Multine® B12 Selenised provides an optimum dose for all lambs 10-20kg in weight.4-6
- 2mg of selenium is well tolerated, and has been used to protect tens of millions of NZ lambs at tailing with Lamb Vaccine Selenised, for over 50 years.
![](https://www.msd-animal-health.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/sites/39/2020/07/Guide-to-optimum-selenium-dose-rate.jpg?w=960)
1 Muir et al (2003) Proceedings of the New Zealand Grassland Association 65: 61-63
2 Litherland et al (2000) Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production 60: 55-57
3 Suttle , N.F and Underwood, E.J. (1999) The mineral nutrition of livestock. 3rd ed, 451-453
4 Grace, N.D. (2002) Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production 62: 311-314
5 West D, Bruere N and Ridler A (2009). “The Sheep, Health, Disease and Production” textbook. p138
6 Beef and Lamb NZ Trace Element Nutrition of Sheep Fact Sheet March 2020
*Baron Audit Data, June 2021
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