Selenium boosts lamb weights

Lamb growth rates improved by nearly 12% in the first five weeks of life and weaning weights by 2kg a lamb, as a result of improved selenium status in ewes.

Research by University College Dublin found feeding selenium supplement Sel-Plex to ewes during the final seven weeks of pregnancy and 15 weeks in to lactation increased levels in the ewe’s milk.

Lambs from ewes receiving Sel-Plex grew 326g a day during the first 35 days compared with 292g a day from those without Sel-Plex and were 2kg heavier at weaning.

Alltech’s Neil Keane says “Selenium is vital to lamb’s natural immune response and disease resistance mechanisms.