Effects of selenium and vitamin E deficiencies on reproduction, growth, blood components, and tissue lesions in sheep fed purified diets

Three 2 x 2 factorial experiments were conducted with sheep fed purified diets to determine the effects of selenium and vitamin E on the incidence of white muscle disease (WMD) and blood components. All lambs reaching 6 wk of age in the group receiving no vitamin E or selenium developed WMD lesions, whereas only a few lambs in either the +E -Se or -E +Se treatment groups developed these lesions. Plasma activities of creatine phosphokinase, lactic dehydrogenase and glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase were significantly elevated in lambs receiving no vitamin E or selenium, whereas these enzyme activities in those receiving only selenium were non-significantly elevated. The enzyme activities in plasma of those on the +E -Se or +E +Se treatments were maintained at low levels, suggesting vitamin E alone is more effective in preventing WMD than selenium alone. The metabolic interactions of these essentials are discussed.