Farm Animals

Sheep Selenium and Vitamin E Deficiency

White muscle disease from selenium and vitamin E deficiency causes paralysis and death in lambs, preventable through targeted supplementation.

Key Facts

White muscle disease causes nutritional muscular dystrophy in selenium-deficient lambs
Affected lambs show weakness, difficulty standing and cardiac failure
Selenium-deficient areas include much of northern and western Britain
Supplementation of ewes in late pregnancy prevents clinical disease in lambs
Selenium toxicity occurs at relatively low doses - dosing precision is essential

Welfare Considerations

White muscle disease causes severe suffering in affected lambs through muscle pain and paralysis before death. It is entirely preventable through appropriate selenium supplementation of at-risk ewes. Identifying deficient areas through testing and implementing targeted supplementation prevents this specific welfare problem effectively.

What You Can Do

Blood test ewes for selenium status before supplementing
Consult your vet or nutritionist about appropriate supplement type and dose
Monitor lambs for white muscle disease signs in selenium-deficient areas