Abstract: Whole blood samples from 1,695 mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus)  were collected from 15 geographical herd groups from 1980 to 1988, and analyzed for whole blood selenium (Se). Mean Se concentrations for each group were compared to accepted values for livestock species. Eleven groups bad mean blood Se concentrations &lt;0.10 mg/L (deficient by livestock standards for groups of animals). Two-thirds of the groups bad fint quartile Se concentrations (Ql) that were considered seriously deficient (&lt;0.05 mg/L). Significant (P &lt;0.05) difference in blood Se concentrations were found for geographical location, season (reproductive phase), sex, and resident venus migratory behavior. No significant differences were detected for sub-species or age. 1be likelihood and manifestations of Se deficiency in deer, especially decreased fawn survivability, are discussed with possible explanations for predisposing influences

Ben B Norman

Charles E Franti

David A Jessup

Gloria Ros-Mcgauran

Michael N Oliver

CiteSeerX

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SELENIUM CONCENTRAnONS IN BLOOD OF FREE-RANGING MULE DEER IN CAUFORNIA 
MICHAEL N. OLIVER , Veterinary Medicine Extension, University of California, Davis, CA 95616 
GLORIA ROS-MCGAURAN ,1 Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, School of 
Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA 95616 
DAVID A. JESSUP, Wildlife Investigations Lab, California Department of Fish and Game, Rancho 
Cordova, CA 95670 
BEN B. NORMAN , Veterinary Medicine Extension, University of California, Davis, CA 95616 
CHARLES E. FRANTI , Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, School of Veterinary 
Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA 95616 
1990 TRANSACTIONS OF THE WESTERN SECTION OF THE WILDUFE SOCIETY 26:80-86 
Abstract: Whole blood samples from 1,695 mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) were collected from 15 geographical herd groups from 
1980 to 1988, and analyzed for whole blood selenium (Se). Mean Se concentrations for each group were compared to accepted values 
for livestock species. Eleven groups bad mean blood Se concentrations <0.10 mg/L (deficient by livestock standards for groups of 
animals). Two-thirds of the groups bad fint quartile Se concentrations (Ql) that were considered seriously deficient (<0.05 mg/L). 
Significant (P <0.05) difference in blood Se concentrations were found for geographical location, season (reproductive phase), sex, 
and resident venus migratory behavior. No significant differences were detected for sub-species or age. 1be likelihood and 
manifestations of Se deficiency in deer, especially decreased fawn survivability, are discussed with possible explanations for 
predisposing influences. 
Selenium (Se) deficiency may be as significant 
a state-wide problem in California as man-made Se 
toxicity at specific local sites. The likelihood of 
selenium-responsive diseases in livestock has been 
shown to increase as blood Se concentrations fall 
below certain limits (Puis 1981 ). Selenium 
deficiency may contribute to neonatal mortality in 
California mule deer herds (Flueck 1989). 
Previous studies have documented the 
distribution of Se in soils and demonstrate a linear 
correlation between soil Se and the Se content of 
forage. Additionally, these studies demonstrated a 
positive correlation between Se content of forage 
and Se concentration in blood and other tissues of 
ruminants (Muth 1963, Kubota et al. 1967, Allaway 
1973). Surveys of blood Se levels in beef cattle in 
California have demonstrated an overall Se herd 
deficiency ( <0.10 mg/L in whole blood) incidence 
of about 64% (Williams 1980, Dunbar et at. 1988). 
Severe Se deficiency in domestic ruminants is 
expressed as white muscle disease or nutritional 
muscular dystrophy wherein animals die of cardiac 
failure. Sub-clinical Se deficiency is manifested by 
reduced rate of growth, reduced feed efficiency, and 
lowered immune response (Hartley 1963, Sheppard 
1984, Reffett et al. 1988). 
Precise nutritional requirements and blood 
concentration guidelines for Se have not been 
established for wild ruminants. The pathology of 
capture myopathy, a condition of wild ruminants, is 
1 Present address:2928 San Antonio Drive, Walnut Creek, CA 
94596 
80 
similar to that of white muscle disease (Ullrey et al. 
1981), and most often occurs when blood Se 
concentrations in blood are below 0.05 mg/L. 
Capture myopathy has been observed in deer in 
California (D. Jessup, pers. commun. ). 
Nutritional myopathy, characterized by stiff, 
nonfunctional, and painful muscles, may increase 
the predation of Se deficient deer fawns and 
yearlings. In a study done in Shasta County, 
California (Flueck 1989) where livestock and deer 
typically have deficient blood Se concentrations (by 
livestock standards, Williams 1980) there was 
significantly higher survival in fawns born of does 
that were treated with intraruminal Se pellets as 
opposed to fawns born of untreated does. Over a 
three-year period, fawn survival was increased by an 
overall factor of 2.6. Does given intraruminal 
pellets had significantly higher blood Se 
concentrations than their untreated counterparts. 
For the three-year period, whole blood levels were 
increased by an overall factor of 3.6 (Flueck 1989). 
The present study was undertaken to describe 
the Se status of various deer herds and groups of 
deer herds in California, and to examine some of the 
possible biological and environmental influences 
of Se status in deer. Ultimately, this information 
may be useful in explaining and predicting poor 
fawn survival in some deer herds in California and 
may be the impetus for innovative herd 
management techniques to enhance fawn survival. 


TRANS. WEST. SECT. WILDL SOC. 26:1990 
N 0 I C A I L D J F H M B l G 
C\IJRliOOA HElD GROUJIS 
Flg.2. Confidence intervals at the 95% level for whole blood 
Se concentrations by deer herd grOYpe. 
concentration was 1.056 mg/L. All groups 
contained individual animals with blood Se 
concentrations at or below the detection limit 
(BDL) of 0.01 mg/L. Two-thirds of the groups had 
Q1 values that were < 0.05 mg/L. Seven of the 
groups had Q4 values < 0.10 mg/L. To compare the 
means found in Table 1, 99.95% confidence 
intervals (CI) were constructed. These data suggest 
that the 3 highest groups (B, K, and G) were 
significantly (P < 0.05) different than the lowest 10 
groups (Fig. 2). 
Mean blood Se concentration values 
Selenium in Deer • Oliver et al. 83 
significantly decreased for the seasonality 
parameters chosen (P < .05): breeding phase (0.094 
mg/L.), gestation phase (0.089 mg/L.), and lactation 
phase (0.076 mg/L). The lowest quanile means 
were at or below 0.040 mg!L., for all three phases 
(Table 2). Males (0.086 mg/L) had lower Se values 
than females (0.091 mg!L )(P < 0.05). Samples were 
combined for the purpose of seasonality analysis 
without regard to gender. Some samples were 
identified only by year of collection and were 
omitted from this analysis. 
A significant difference (P < 0.05) was 
detected between resident (0.103 mg/L) and 
migratory (0.081 mg/L) groups (Table 3). There 
was a significant interaction (P < 0.001) between 
resident/migratory categories and reproductive 
phase categories with the greatest difference 
occurring between resident (0.119 mg/L) and 
migratory deer (0.065 mg!L) during the breeding 
phase. No significant (P < 0.05) difference was 
detected for age, but a significant (P < 0.001) 
interaction was detected between age and resident/ 
migratory behavior with resident adults (0.116 mgt 
L) having the highest values and young migratory 
deer (0.078 mg/L) having the lowest values. 
No significant (P < 0.05) differences were 
detected for blood Se concentrations in subspecies 
or age categories. There was a significant (P < 
0.001) interaction between age and resident/ 
migratory behavior with adult resident deer (0.116 
mg/L) having the highest and young migratory deer 
Table 2. Results of one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), comparing mean blood Se levels by reproductive phases of both sexes of 
deer in California. 
Groups mean median so• N Max Min Range Q1 Q4 
Bb .094 .066 .096 619 1.056 BDLC 1.047 .031 .126 
G• .089 .075 .072 774 .660 BDL .651 .040 .118 
Prob (Tail) 
Ld .076 .055 .063 285 .416 .010 .406 .034 .024 .100 
Fratio 
Total 1678 3.7 
-standard Deviation 
bBreeding phase. 
eGestation phase. 
dLactation phase. 
•Below detection limit (0.01 mgll). 
Missing casas 17. 
84 Selenium in Deer· Oliver et aJ. TRANS. WEST. SECT. WILDL SOC. 26:1990 
Table 3. Reeulta of oM-Way analysis of variance (ANOVA), comparing mean blood Se concentrations between resident and migratory 
group. of deer in CaiHomia. 
Groups mean median so• N Max Min Range Q1 Q4 
.103 .079 .1 563 1.056 BOLd 1.047 .040 .128 
.081 .062 .067 1132 .630 BOL .621 .031 .113 
Total 
•Standard Deviation 
bRealdent deer. 
CMJgratory deer. 
dBeJow detection limit (0.01 mg/L). 
(0.078 mg/L) having the lowest Se concentrations. 
DISCUSSION 
No individual deer showed whole blood Se 
values that would elicit concern for toxicity in 
livestock (3 mg/L or greater)(Blood and Radostits 
1989). Median herd Se values were equal to or less 
than 0.05 mg/L in one-third of the management 
groups. 
1695 
Based on the work of Williams (1980) and 
others, the Veterinary Extension Unit, School of 
Veterinary Medicine, University of California, has 
established descriptive limits for livestock Se 
deficiency and adequacy for individual animals: 
whole blood Se greater than 0.08 mg/L (adequate); 
0.04 to 0.08 mg/L (inadequate/marginal); less than 
0.04 mg/L (deficient). For evaluating mean blood 
level for groups of animals, 0.10 mg/L is used as the 
cut-off value between adequate and deficient since 
most group means of 0.10 mg/L contain individual 
animals below the adequate value. 
Selenium deficiency is widespread in 
California deer herds as evidenced by deficient first 
quartile values in two-thirds of the management 
groups, and individual animal deficiencies in all 
groups. 
Since seasonality and reproductive phase are 
intimately confounded under natural conditions, 
we cannot determine the cause of the decrease in 
blood Se concentrations from breeding phase 
(August 15-0ecember 14) through gestation phase 
(December 15-April 14), and lactation phase (April 
15-August 14). Over a four-year period, we 
(Norman and Oliver) have observed blood levels of 
cattle to be consistently lowest in early summer 
which is consistent with these data from deer. 
Fratio Prob (2-tail) 
30.22 0.001 
Williams (1980) observed a tendency for cattle 
in higher elevations ( > 600 m) to have lower blood 
Se concentrations. Since migratory deer tend to 
frequent higher elevations more than resident deer, 
this could explain the lower blood Se 
concentrations observed for migratory deer. These 
data suggest that migratory deer were able to move 
to areas with better sources of Se during their 
gestation phase, whereas, resident deer 
encountered their best feed Se sources during their 
breeding phase. 
The lower blood Se concentrations observed 
in male deer is consistent with data collected from 
cattle (Norman, unpublished data). The 
observation that young migratory deer have the 
lowest blood Se concentrations of the migratory/ 
resident behaviors versus age may be explained by 
the stress of two migrations per year during the time 
of rapid growth when nutrient requirements are 
typically the highest. 
Worth considering are possible explanations 
for why Se may currently be more of a limiting factor 
in deer nutrition and recruitment than it was 
several years ago. In acid to neutral soils that are 
well-drained, the natural cycling of Se suffers a very 
gradual depletion from the processes of leaching 
and volatilization (Allaway 1973). Added to 
natural losses of Se are those resulting from the 
removal of biomass from the environment. 
Removal of Se-containing biomass can take the 
form of timber harvest, livestock grazing, or fire. 
Sulfur can compete with selenium. Sulfur-
fertilized forage has been shown to contain less Se 
than non-fertilized forage, and sheep consuming 
sulfur-fertilized forage have lower blood Se values 
(Jones et al. 1987). The use of sulfur-fertilizers is a 
common and extensive agronomic practice to 
TRANS. WEST. SECT. WILDL SOC. 26:1990 
improve forage production in California. 
Acid precipitation may contribute to Se 
depletion in two ways. Selenium in acid and neutral 
soils tends to be converted to stable, less 
biologically available forms (Allaway 1973). 
Sulfate, often a significant component of acid 
precipitation, may be slowly displacing Se uptake by 
forage. A study of sulfate deposition from acid rain 
was measured at eight locations in central and 
northern California. During a seven-month period 
from November to May, average sulfate deposition 
was 3.17 kg/ba (McColl et al. 1982). Although this 
amount might not contribute significantly to the 
sulfur requirement of agricultural crops, it might 
represent a cumulative impact on lower yielding 
natural forages. 
These data suggest that wildlife managers 
should consider the potential for Se deficiency 
when working to improve or maintain healthy 
productive deer herds in California. 
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS 
This study was made possible by the efforts of 
a large number of biologists who collected blood 
samples and other pertinent data. In particular, we 
appreciate the assistance of Dave Smith, Ron 
Thomas, Martha and Henry Coletto, Tim Burton, 
Henry Coletto, and Karen Jones. We also thank 
Bob Nelson for the many years of quality analytical 
work that produced the blood Se values. 
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TRANS. WEST. SECT. WILDL SOC. 26:1990 


SELENIUM CONCENTRAnONS IN BLOOD OF FREE-RANGING MULE DEER IN CAUFORNIA

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SELENIUM CONCENTRAnONS IN BLOOD OF FREE-RANGING MULE DEER IN CAUFORNIA

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