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Date Posted: 00:25:57 02/04/03 Tue
Author: Cheri
Subject: Monday's horse fact..
In reply to: Cheri 's message, "A New Week. Daily Inspirations, and Horse Facts.." on 00:16:39 02/04/03 Tue



Selenium and the Horse



Selenium is a trace element required by the horse.
Selenium is not manufactured by plants, but is absorbed by them from the earth. If the soil is low in selenium then it is likely that both hay and oats grown on it will also have a low content . Most soils are not low in Se but some are.

Main electrolytes : Na K Ca Mg Chloride Phosphate
Trace Elements : Fe Cu Zn Co selenium S I

To check on the electrolyte levels of a horse is not straightforward; Blood Plasma Concentration gives an overall guide to electrolyte/mineral levels, but will only detect large deficiency or excess. However horses are very capable of maintaining plasma levels to the detriment of tissue levels therefore a combined blood urine analysis may be better. Even so it is not easy to analyse out a trace of selenium in comparison to a main electrolyte such as Sodium. Possible but difficult, therefore probably expensive!

Most equine diets have a natural excess of electrolytes.

BUT soils deficient in selenium may cause problems for horses especially broodmares youngstock .

Selenium is a key part of the blood cell enzyme glutathione peroxidase which in conjunction with vit E, removes free radicals {very reactive damaging substances that are sometimes formed within cells, see below} from the body. Selenium and/or Vit E deficiency have been shown to cause muscle disease in young horses.

Substantial excess Selenium is TOXIC.

Toxicity is partly due to selenium replacing sulphur in proteins, typically causing diseased hoof horn, known as alkali disease. If poisoning is acute then death occurs due to organ damage, especially the liver. Some plants e.g.. vetch can contain selenium at up to 6000ppm, this is considered sufficient to cause acute poisoning if eaten in any quantity.

Quotes for absolute daily requirement appear contradictory, but in the UK, where Se additives are not necessary under normal conditions the herbage typically contains 0.1 mg per kg of dry matter.

Therefore it doesn't seem unreasonable to conclude that a possible inclusion rate for an adult horse would be 1mg per day as a feed supplement. Youngstock typically require a greater level of trace elements than adults, but given the nature sensitivity of Selenium in the diet, I would not be inclined to exceed this level unless professionally advised to do so.

Selenium requirement action is known to vary with VitE levels, therefore a supplement that contains both VitE Selenium would seem sensible. A few years ago I did feed one such supplement to help a mare recover from a skin hair infection. My observations aren't scientifically based, but it did seem to help her.

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[> Tuesday's inspiration.. -- Cheri, 00:05:06 02/05/03 Wed



CALLED TO FISH

_________________________

Matthew 4:18-22 (NRSV)

As [Jesus] walked by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea -- for they were fishermen. And he said to them, "Follow me, and I will make you fish for people." Immediately they left their nets and followed him. As he went from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John, in the boat with their father Zebedee, mending their nets, and he called them. Immediately they left the boat and their father, and followed him.

_________________________

[Jesus] said to them, "Follow me, and I will make you fish for people." Immediately they left their nets and followed him.

-- Matthew 4:19-20 (NRSV)

_________________________

SOON after I became a Christian, I felt God calling me into full-time Christian ministry. Because I was in the military, I could not immediately leave everything to follow Jesus as the four fishermen in Matthew's Gospel did. I soon realized, however, that I had numerous opportunities to fish for people where I was.

When Jesus calls us into the Christian life, he promises to train and empower us to fish for people. Whether we are full-time clergy or lay people, Christ calls us to love and serve wherever we are - in the home, in the classroom, at work, and wherever we encounter people.

Answering this call does not require a scholarly understanding of the Bible, ordination, great wealth, or high social standing. Jesus works wonders through ordinary people who give themselves fully to him and try consistently to live a Christlike life. His disciples were ordinary people whom he used to change the world.

Like theirs, our daily actions and decisions can reflect our willingness to witness to others.


Prayer: Heavenly Father, teach us to fish for people with confidence
and enthusiasm. Make us willing disciples of your kingdom. Amen.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:
God calls us to fish for people wherever we are. "Carpe diem." Fish
today.

-- Virgil Fry (Indiana, U.S.A.)

PRAYER FOCUS: To see my opportunities to witness

_________________________


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