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ARS Home » Plains Area » Miles City, Montana » Livestock and Range Research Laboratory » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #135891
Title: SELENIUM CONCENTRATION AND DISTRIBUTION IN RANGE FORAGES FROM FOUR LOCATIONS IN THE NORTHERN GREAT PLAINS

Author
item LAWLER, T - NDSU
item Taylor, Joshua - Bret
item Grings, Elaine
item Finley, John
item CATON, J - NDSU

Submitted to: Journal of Animal Science Supplement
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/1/2002
Publication Date: 6/1/2002
Citation: LAWLER, T.L., TAYLOR, J.B., GRINGS, E.E., FINLEY, J.W., CATON, J.S. SELENIUM CONCENTRATION AND DISTRIBUTION IN RANGE FORAGES FROM FOUR LOCATIONS IN THE NORTHERN GREAT PLAINS. JOURNAL OF ANIMAL SCIENCE SUPPLEMENT. 2002. v. 80(SUPPL. 2). p. 115.

Interpretive Summary: Locations representing high to low selenium areas were selected to assess selenium concentration in diets vs available forage [masticate (MS) vs clipped grass (TG)] and distribution in forage fractions [grass stems (GS) vs grass leaves (GL)] across season. Locations were near Pierre, SD (PSD), Fargo, ND (FND), Jamestown, ND (JND), and Miles City, MT (MMT). Sampling dates were May 29 to June 8 (JUN) and July 11 to 20 (JUL). At each location, four 27.4 m diameter sites of similar plant species composition were selected and ten 0.25 m2 areas within each site were clipped to a 0.64 cm height. Clipped forage was pooled within site, divided into grasses and forbs, and further subdivided into leaf and stem fractions. After clipping, ruminally cannulated cattle were tethered (one per site) and MS taken via ruminal evacuation techniques. Data were analyzed as a split plot design within location. Forage type (MS, TG, GS, and GL) was the main plot and season the subplot. Dietary Se (MS) concentration did not differ from TG (P > 0.19) within location (3.40 vs 4.07 ± 1.08; 0.11 vs 1.20 ± 0.43; 0.78 vs 0.50 ± 0.17; and 0.29 vs 0.28 ± 0.04 ppm for PSD, FND, JND, and MMT, respectively). Likewise, Se distribution of forage fractions (GS vs GL) was not altered (P > 0.19) within location (4.32 vs 4.86 ± 1.32; 0.38 vs 0.07 ± 0.27; 0.42 vs 0.78 ± 0.24; and 0.51 vs 0.57 ± 0.04 ppm for PSD, FND, JND, and MMT, respectively). At JND and MMT, forage samples in JUN had less (P < 0.04) Se compared with JUL (0.37 vs 0.88 ± 0.16 and 0.27 vs 0.55 ± 0.02 ppm, for JND and MMT respectively). In conclusion, Se concentrations are not different between MS and TG across season; however, much variation seems to occur in Se concentration within location (e.g., FND). Furthermore, Se distribution between GS and GL was not different.

Technical Abstract: Locations representing high to low selenium areas were selected to assess selenium concentration in diets vs available forage [masticate (MS) vs clipped grass (TG)] and distribution in forage fractions [grass stems (GS) vs grass leaves (GL)] across season. Locations were near Pierre, SD (PSD), Fargo, ND (FND), Jamestown, ND (JND), and Miles City, MT (MMT). Sampling dates were May 29 to June 8 (JUN) and July 11 to 20 (JUL). At each location, four 27.4 m diameter sites of similar plant species composition were selected and ten 0.25 m2 areas within each site were clipped to a 0.64 cm height. Clipped forage was pooled within site, divided into grasses and forbs, and further subdivided into leaf and stem fractions. After clipping, ruminally cannulated cattle were tethered (one per site) and MS taken via ruminal evacuation techniques. Data were analyzed as a split plot design within location. Forage type (MS, TG, GS, and GL) was the main plot and season the subplot. Dietary Se (MS) concentration did not differ from TG (P > 0.19) within location (3.40 vs 4.07 ± 1.08; 0.11 vs 1.20 ± 0.43; 0.78 vs 0.50 ± 0.17; and 0.29 vs 0.28 ± 0.04 ppm for PSD, FND, JND, and MMT, respectively). Likewise, Se distribution of forage fractions (GS vs GL) was not altered (P > 0.19) within location (4.32 vs 4.86 ± 1.32; 0.38 vs 0.07 ± 0.27; 0.42 vs 0.78 ± 0.24; and 0.51 vs 0.57 ± 0.04 ppm for PSD, FND, JND, and MMT, respectively). At JND and MMT, forage samples in JUN had less (P < 0.04) Se compared with JUL (0.37 vs 0.88 ± 0.16 and 0.27 vs 0.55 ± 0.02 ppm, for JND and MMT respectively). In conclusion, Se concentrations are not different between MS and TG across season; however, much variation seems to occur in Se concentration within location (e.g., FND). Furthermore, Se distribution between GS and GL was not different.