Fertilizer containing Se has not been shown to significantly increase the Se content of the plants from that soil. In areas of known Se deficiency, it is often practice to give calves and second trimester pregnant cows intramuscular injections of Se and vitamin E to prevent disease. Requirements are higher when legumes are fed, S intake is high, vitamin E intake is low, and when diets contain heavy metals. Diets with high amounts of unsaturated fatty acids will increase the requirement for Se. Effects of Se deficiency in cattle include, white muscle disease, retained placenta, unthriftiness, cystic ovarian disease, and anemia.
Sheep share some of the same diseases that cattle get.
There is high incidence of white muscle disease in lambs, and there are two types of WMD that affect lambs. The first is congenital WMD, where lambs are wither stillborn, or die within a few days, after physical exertion. The second type is delayed WMD, and can occur from 1-4 months after birth. These lambs walk with an unsteady gait and arched back. Ewes also suffer from infertility and embryonic loss when Se deficient.