Farm Animals

Sheep Selenium Deficiency White Muscle Disease

Selenium deficiency causes white muscle disease in lambs, a painful and often fatal muscular degeneration preventable through targeted supplementation.

Key Facts

White muscle disease affects lambs from selenium-deficient ewes typically at 1-4 weeks of age
Affected lambs show stiff gait, inability to suckle, and respiratory distress
UK soils are particularly low in selenium in many regions
Supplementation of ewes before lambing prevents disease in their offspring
Diagnosis is confirmed by low blood selenium and muscle enzyme elevation

Welfare Considerations

White muscle disease causes severe pain and helplessness in young lambs. Prevention through supplementation is straightforward and prevents entirely avoidable suffering.

What You Can Do

Test soil and blood selenium levels in flocks in at-risk areas
Supplement ewes with selenium before lambing in deficient regions
Work with your vet to develop a selenium supplementation protocol
Monitor lambs for early signs of white muscle disease at birth