I've been reading a few posts on Facebook groups recently about selenium deficiency, and it's bringing up some questions. I'm thinking I may need to do selenium a little differently than I have been, but I want to see what others think.
Since probably the second year of owning goats (I've had them about six years now), I've been using selenium paste (in addition to loose minerals and copper boluses). I give the paste to does and bucks prior to breeding, and again to does about a month before kidding.
Fertility has been good. The first year I had one single. Since then I've had about an equal number of triplets and twins.
However, there have been some issues. At first I didn't think they were related, but now I'm wondering...
I've had one doe who needed a c-section and lost her twins. Vet said she had a narrow pelvis, and one of the kids was large (my fault - fed her too much). I really don't think this was selenium related, but I am including it just in case.
I've had two retained placentas, both FF, one of whose milk also did not come in. The other passed away from mastitis five days after kidding. Both of these does had triplets as well.
I also have a buck who is apparently infertile. He did not settle any of the does he bred last year, which was his first year breeding. I haven't had him checked by a vet yet - I'm still debating whether or not I want to do that or just wether him. Part of me feels that if he is not naturally able to settle does easily, I don't want him as a buck anyway because that's not a trait I'd want even if it's fixable somehow.
I have assumed that, because does typically settle well (except with the one buck) and have had multiple kids with no weak kids born, the paste has been sufficient for my herd. But after seeing comments about selenium recently and reading more about it, it's making me think maybe they need just a bit more than the paste has been providing. I've ordered selenium powder to offer free choice, and I'm interested to see how they will respond to this and how much they will eat.
If all this had been spread out over say, 10 years and dozens of births, I wouldn't think they were related at all. But in only six years and less than 10 births so far, it seems like this may be a higher rate of these issues than I should be having. What are your thoughts on this?
Replies
I use the selenium linked by Rachel above.
Judy Asarkof said:
Deborah - what is the free feed selenium product YOU use - same as the above product. I have the above product but have never offered it free feed. Let me know what you use please! Judy
Just in case you haven't seen this before, it talks about how animals can regulate their mineral intake:
https://extension.usu.edu/behave/files/uploads/Fact_sheets_basic/Mi...
Update: The selenium got here today (the shipping was lightning fast!). Interestingly enough, when I put it out, some of them started lapping it up like it was candy, and others just sniffed it and seemed uninterested.
I noticed the ones who ate the most were the bucks and the does who were just bred in last few weeks. The ones who seemed least interested were the does who are about 3 months pregnant and the one dry doe. I'm curious as to whether or not that is actually indicating that the ones who ate the most had a higher need right now or if it was just a coincidence. I guess there's no way to know for sure, but I trust them to know what they need.
This is what I ordered: http://www.caprinesupply.com/products/health/nutritional-supplement...
I don't think it's a brand name.
What is the recommended free choice selenium item? Brand name please. I want to see if my feed place has it before I go internet. Judy
I will be sure to update when it gets here how much they eat. I feel like if they go after it like they sometimes do the fresh minerals if I've accidentally let a feeder get empty, that will be a clear answer! Even if they don't, though, I'm going to continue offering it and see if other things change over time, like the retained placentas.
Yes, it could be selenium deficiency. It will be interesting to see what happens with the free choice selenium. The paste doesn't have much se in it.