Development potential of selenium in the prevention and treatment of bovine endometritis

Endometritis is a common postpartum disease in cows. It delays uterine involution and impairs normal physiological function. This can result in long-term or even lifelong infertility and cause significant losses to the dairy farming industry. Traditional treatments like antibiotics possess certain shortcomings, such as antibiotic residues, the abuse of antibiotics, and increased antimicrobial resistance of pathogens. Alternative treatment strategies are needed to minimize the utilization of antibiotics in dairy production. As an essential trace element in animals, selenium (Se) plays a vital role in regulating immune function, the inflammatory response, and oxidative stress, affecting the speed and completeness of tissue repair. This paper reviewed previous studies to analyse the potential of Se in the prevention and treatment of bovine endometritis, aiming to provide a new direction to increase production capacity in the future.