Farm Animal Welfare

Sheep Selenium Deficiency and White Muscle Disease

Selenium deficiency causes white muscle disease in lambs, causing muscle weakness and death preventable through management.

Key Facts

White muscle disease (nutritional muscular dystrophy) affects lambs in selenium-deficient regions
Affected lambs are weak, unable to suckle and die from starvation or respiratory failure
Selenium supplementation of ewes in late pregnancy prevents most cases
UK selenium status varies regionally - deficient soils require supplementation
Combined selenium and vitamin E deficiency worsens outcomes

Welfare Considerations

White muscle disease causes progressive muscle degeneration and death in young lambs. Affected lambs cannot stand or suckle and die slowly without intervention. The disease is entirely preventable through appropriate maternal supplementation. Regional soil maps help identify at-risk farms where prophylactic supplementation is warranted.

What You Can Do

Ask your veterinarian about selenium status on your farm or region
Supplement ewes with selenium in late pregnancy if in deficient regions
Monitor lambs for white muscle disease signs at lambing
Support research into optimal supplementation strategies for selenium-deficient regions