Farm Animals

Sheep Selenium Deficiency and White Muscle Disease

Selenium deficiency causes white muscle disease (nutritional muscular dystrophy) in lambs, with significant welfare impacts. Prevention is straightforward and effective.

Key Facts

White muscle disease affects lambs in selenium-deficient areas, particularly in the UK
Clinical signs include weakness, difficulty standing, and respiratory failure
Selenium-deficient ewes produce selenium-deficient lambs
Selenium supplementation to ewes before lambing prevents disease in lambs
Excess selenium is toxic - supplementation should be based on blood testing

Welfare Considerations

Lambs with white muscle disease suffer from muscle pain, weakness, and respiratory compromise. Severely affected lambs cannot stand to suckle and die from starvation or pneumonia. Prevention through appropriate selenium supplementation of ewes in deficient areas is simple, effective, and dramatically reduces suffering in newborn lambs.

What You Can Do

Test blood selenium levels in ewes in at-risk areas before supplementation
Supplement ewes in selenium-deficient areas before lambing
Consult your vet or nutritionist for appropriate selenium supplementation protocols