How selenomethionine mitigates oxidative stress at transition
Channel: AdisseoFeedsolutions
Date: 2022-10-10

During the transition period, dairy cows experience increased disease risk due to oxidative
stress factors such as environmental stress (e.g., heat stress), nutrition, body condition
score, disease challenge, obesity, and increased plasma NEFA concentrations. Oxidative stress is associated with diseases such as mastitis, acidosis, ketosis, enteritis, pneumonia along with respiratory diseases. It’s also associated with the retention of fetal membranes post-calving and disrupting the activity of the corpus luteum. 

To cope with oxidative stress, a ready and constant supply of selenoproteins is required during the stress event. Selenium, a trace element in selenoproteins, provides this antioxidant defense. Selenium is an essential part of 25 selenoproteins more than half of which are directly or indirectly involved in the maintenance of the body’s redox balance and antioxidant defense.

To ensure the animal’s optimal selenium status, supply selenium in the organic form and in
particular in the form of selenomethionine. It is a safe storage form of selenium. When fed the hydroxy-selenomethionine Selisseo®, dairy cows naturally build an endogenous selenium reserve within their body proteins.

Selenomethionine or hydroxy-selenomethionine must be supplied via feedstuffs or supplements. They cannot be synthesized by dairy cows. With feedstuffs, the selenium content varies with the soils where they were grown. To build selenium reserves, supplement with Selisseo, so selenoproteins are readily and constantly available during stress events. Selisseo significantly improves selenium and antioxidant status.