Salt and Trace Minerals for Livestock, Poultry and Other Animals
INJECTABLE TRACE MINERALS
Injectable trace minerals are restricted to use by or on the order of a licensed veterinarian. Selenium is the most common trace mineral administered by injection. When diseases like white muscle disease have been diagnosed, injectable selenium is the most rapid approach to correcting the deficiency. Injectable selenium typically increases selenium levels in treated animal for about 45 days (334). However, injectable trace minerals should be viewed as a transitory, short-term solution to an acute deficiency problem. In intensively managed dairy cows a single dose of injectable trace minerals before breeding had no beneficial effects on first-service conception rates. Cows receiving a does of injectable trace minerals before calving and another dose before breeding had lower conceptions at first service (312).
Barium selenate is the most common injectable selenium source. In horses, New Zealand researchers found that selenium status was improved, but swelling and fibrosis occurred at all dosages evaluated (310). When cattle were injected with 1 mg selenium/kg body weight, between 76 and 99% of the selenium remained at the injection site 119 days post-treatment (309). Using this approach as a routine selenium delivery method is problematic. Most consumers will be apprehensive about consuming meat from animals injected with barium selenate knowing that there is a risk the meat may contain pharmacological doses of selenium. Injectable trace minerals are the most expensive delivery method per unit of nutrient provided.
Copyright: 2006