Suitability of Selenate Containing Silage Additives for the Supply of Beef Cattle

Selenium concentrations in herbage are frequently insufficient (\u3c 100 μg Se/kg dry matter (DM)) to meet the requirements of ruminants. Whereas increasing Se supply by feeding mineral mixtures is a reliable method to prevent Se deficiencies for dairy cows, adequate Se supplementation is more difficult to achieve in extensive systems (McDowell, 1996). A suitable measure could be the addition of Se to herbage before ensiling