Implications
The importance of selenium (Se) in influencing biological
processes, including regulation of redox/immune functions,
makes its supplementation in dairy cattle diets a routine
practice. Se can be supplemented in quantities up to 0.3 or
0.5mg/kg dry matter in North America and the European
Union, respectively. We evaluated the effects of these two
levels of supplementations, in organic or inorganic forms, on
neutrophil immune functions of high-producing dairy cows.
Our results showed that the higher levels of supplementation
significantly increased the respiratory burst activity of neutrophils.
Also, neutrophil apoptosis decreased when cows
were fed organic Se as compared to inorganic Se. Our data
suggest further benefits at a higher level of supplementation.