Effect of selenium intake on selenium utilization by the nonlactating dairy cow

Total collection digestion trials were used to study selenium absorption and retention as related to selenium intake in nonlactating dairy cows. Relationship between selenium absorption and retention was linear over selenium intakes from 400 to 3100 micrograms/day. Regression analysis showed partial selenium absorption of 51% over total range of intake and 41% retention of dietary selenium intake. Also, negative selenium balances could occur when nonlactating cows are fed selenium-deficient diets without a supplemental source of selenium.