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  Discussion on Selenium and feed stuffs
Author Message
Member:
kshayden

Posted on Tuesday, Nov 4, 2008 - 10:38 pm:

Hi Dr.O,
I have read and re-read the selenium and feed discussions and suggestions. I am trying to determine the value/amount of selenium, as well as all my other nutrients/ingredients and I just can't seem to wrap my mind around this.
So far, I have figured out that .4534 kg = a LB.
So, if I am feeding 3 Lbs a day, I am feeding 1.3602 kg's a day.
Currently, I feed Strategy GX, calf manna and the mineralized salt recommended to beef up my selenium. 1st question:-) for the moment!!! is if the grain is 14% protein - wouldn't any amount (1 cup or 20 lbs) be 14%? or if 1 lb = 14%, does 2 lbs = 28%? Figuring 3 lbs @ 14% using the equation (1.3602 x 14), I get 19.0428% protein. Is this correct?
You might remember I had a foal the end of May that was severally contracted. I have run into a few folks that really believe selenium deficiency was the culprit (addressed in reproduction topics but I didn't find anything about the foals) SO, I am trying to figure out if I am low (or high). During the pregnancy, the mare received LMF development and a bit of calf manna with no additional supplementation other than both a mineral and a salt block. I feed grass/clover (80/20). The spring I bred this mare, I gave everyone a selenium shot - but she was a butt about it (dangerous actually with rearing etc) and ruined the needle so she didn't get hers. Which brings me to another question - if we are supposed to not feed more than 3 ppm per day why is the shot OK? Doesn't it put alot in their system? Selenium builds up over time - so would it be better to supplement only a couple of times a week? This same mare did tie up around 4 months pregnant but came out of it within an hour. It seems I change and add alot depending on what I read. The horses are getting more grain right now than usual simply because it is the end of the dry season and the pastures are gone. In figuring out the grain rations - do I need to re-figure each time I increase or decrease the main grain (Strategy)? I would really like to get down to the correct feed stuffs and stick with it. I also feed 1 cup of oil 2x's a day plus about 1/4 cup of wheat germ oil. I am also feeding something called megadose for hooves more than anything but it seems to have quite a bit of good ingredients as well. Then I added the mineralized salt this week so am wondering if I need to do one or the other? The mare/foal also gets antiflex and glucosamine.

Lots of questions, thanks for your assistance.

Kathy
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Wednesday, Nov 5, 2008 - 8:55 am:

Hello Kathy,
No your calculations are not correct. The percentage of a nutrient means what part of the whole is that nutrient. The percentage would be the same no matter what the amount.

Selenium deficiency is not a known cause of contracted tendons but instead causes mainly white muscle disease, skin problems, and respiratory disease in foals. The article on Selenium has a link to WMD in foals. Some type selenium injections can be dangerous in the horse and I do not recommend them as a preventive. You will find a straight forward recommendations on selenium supplementation explained in the article, under the supplementation topic head.

You seem to be making what is essentially a very simple subject, feeding horses, quite difficult. You need to review the Overview of Nutrition article, particularly the Golden Rule to get your head straightened out and quit flopping around based on what your friends are telling you and the latest thing you have read. Remember folks have been feeding horses well for thousands of years now. We do know a lot more now than then but the basic principles have changed little, with the possible exception of substituting non-starch foods for energy.
DrO
Member:
gtoupin

Posted on Friday, Nov 7, 2008 - 11:54 am:

Hi
I've spent the last year dealing with a trace mineral deficiency in my horse so I thought I'd tell you what I was told to do.
My horse was diagnosed by an equine internal medicine specialist as having deficiencies in selenium, magnesium, and a couple of other things. We live in BC Canada which is essentially a big rainforest so the soil and therefore the locally grown hay is deficient in several nutrients.
The internal medicine specialist told me to call this man who is a equine nutritionist, fax him the blood tests, and do exactly what he told me to do and then redo the blood tests in three months.
A lot of big show and breeding stables use him to customize their feeding programs to each horse needs.
Why don't you contact an equine nutritionist? The one I use works for a big feed store and designs all the different horse feeds they sell nationally, is highly educated in this field, and works with the veterinarian specialists. He'll tell you exactly what to do.
If you can't find one, put it on this site and I'll tell you how to contact the one I use.
Also, my horse is now very happy, relaxed, and healthy and his blood tests are great.
Member:
maggienm

Posted on Friday, Nov 7, 2008 - 12:36 pm:

Hi Tina, I live in the frozen part of the BC rain forest but we are also known to be selenium deficient.
I would like to have the name of the nutritionist you used.
thank you.
Member:
gtoupin

Posted on Monday, Nov 10, 2008 - 11:40 am:

Hello

This is his contact info

Ken Wilkinson - Nutritionist 604-607-6931
Ken Wilkinson nutrition@otter-coop.com

He's great and has helped a lot of people (and horses!).
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