Currently nutritionists are paying more attention to the value and bioavailability of trace minerals in human and animal rations. One of the often-undervalued nutrients is selenium, especially since it is known that many parts of the world suffer froma natural selenium deficiency. Selenium (Se) is an essential trace mineral for all animals and humans. It is important in anti-oxidant defence systems, but it has a narrow margin of safety. The importance of Se in animal nutrition has been linked to a number of health and product quality benefits (see box), provided that Se is supplied in the right form and dosage. Se deficiency diseases (see box) have long been recognised in livestock, because most feed raw materials are deficient in this mineral. Sedeficiency has been associated with many health problems in farm animals.
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