Summary
This survey documents widespread selenium deficiency in Ethiopian cattle, with 79.8% of sampled animals falling below adequate serum concentration thresholds. Selenium status showed strong geographic dependency, with East Amhara cattle significantly better supplied (median 68.4 μg L⁻¹) than West Amhara (25.7 μg L⁻¹), mirroring variation in feed selenium concentration. The findings suggest soil-mediated geographical differences in selenium availability underpin deficiency patterns affecting livestock productivity and hint at human nutritional implications.
Regional applicability
United Kingdom soils are generally seleniferous due to historical geology, making widespread cattle selenium deficiency uncommon in UK pastoral systems; however, the methodological framework and evidence of geographical variation may inform monitoring strategies in regions with seleniferous or selenium-poor soils.
Key measures
Serum selenium concentration (μg L⁻¹); feed selenium concentration (μg kg⁻¹); prevalence of selenium deficiency (<81 μg L⁻¹); spatial correlation between feed and cattle serum selenium
Outcomes reported
The study measured serum selenium concentration in 224 cattle and selenium concentration in 81 feed samples (stover, straw, hay, pasture grass) from two contrasting regions in Ethiopia using inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry. Results showed widespread cattle selenium deficiency and strong geographic variation in selenium status across the soil-feed-livestock cycle.
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