VITAMIN E, SELENIUM, AND REPRODUCTIVE LOSSES IN ALASKAN MOOSE
A severe vitamin E deficiency was observed in a captive moose (Alces alces) population that was maintained on a pelleted ration during 9 months per year. During 1998 only 10 of 17 calves identified in utero using ultrasonography at the Moose Research Center (MRC), Alaska, were born alive. An additio...
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ftjalces:oai:ojs.pkp.sfu.ca:article/567 2023-05-15T13:13:48+02:00 VITAMIN E, SELENIUM, AND REPRODUCTIVE LOSSES IN ALASKAN MOOSE Stephenson, Thomas R. Crouse, John A. Hundertmark, Kris J. Keech, Mark A. 2001-01-01 application/pdf http://alcesjournal.org/index.php/alces/article/view/567 eng eng Lakehead University http://alcesjournal.org/index.php/alces/article/view/567/649 http://alcesjournal.org/index.php/alces/article/view/567 Alces: A Journal Devoted to the Biology and Management of Moose; Vol. 37 No. 1 (2001): Alces Vol. 37 No. 1 (2001); 201-206 2293-6629 0835-5851 info:eu-repo/semantics/article info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion Peer-reviewed Article 2001 ftjalces 2022-02-12T19:35:49Z A severe vitamin E deficiency was observed in a captive moose (Alces alces) population that was maintained on a pelleted ration during 9 months per year. During 1998 only 10 of 17 calves identified in utero using ultrasonography at the Moose Research Center (MRC), Alaska, were born alive. An additional 3 calves exhibited posterior lameness within 3 weeks following birth and 2 of the 3 subsequently died. These symptoms have been previously associated with white muscle disease. White muscle disease results from both vitamin E and selenium deficiencies. While whole blood and liver selenium levels in 3 animals with white muscle disease were above recommended levels, serum vitamin E (α-tocopherol) levels for MRC calves were lower than levels observed in free-ranging neonatal calves in interior Alaska (Tanana Flats). Furthermore, mean serum vitamin E levels in adult cows during March at the MRC (0.08 μg/ml) were alarmingly lower than free-ranging Tanana Flats moose (2.8 μg/ml). We observed vitamin E deficiencies in animals fed diets with 5 IU/kg feed. Our data suggest that clinical symptoms of vitamin E deficiencies in adult moose may be difficult to detect, unless animals are reproducing. Following supplementation of vitamin E to 220 IU/kg in our pelleted ration during 1999, we observed no abortions and only 1 cow had still-born twin claves, but this was attributed to dystocia. Indeed, during 1999 only 2 of 16 calves identified in utero died of nonpredation causes. Although a vitamin E deficiency in free-ranging moose is unlikely, low selenium levels have been observed in free-ranging ungulate populations. Mean whole blood selenium levels in Tanana Flats moose (0.12 μg/g) were significantly lower than MRC adult cows (0.16 μg/g) fed a supplemented diet. More importantly, 8 of 10 animals from the Tanana Flats had selenium levels ≤ 0.085 μg/g and were below recommended levels for domestic cattle. Given the lack of data on soil selenium levels in Alaska, deficiency-related neonatal losses may occur that are attributed to other causes of mortality. It will be difficult to quantify in utero and neonatal calf losses resulting from selenium and vitamin E deficiencies if blood or tissue samples from study locations are not examined. Article in Journal/Newspaper Alces alces Alaska Alces (A Journal Devoted to the Biology and Management of Moose) |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
Alces (A Journal Devoted to the Biology and Management of Moose) |
op_collection_id |
ftjalces |
language |
English |
description |
A severe vitamin E deficiency was observed in a captive moose (Alces alces) population that was maintained on a pelleted ration during 9 months per year. During 1998 only 10 of 17 calves identified in utero using ultrasonography at the Moose Research Center (MRC), Alaska, were born alive. An additional 3 calves exhibited posterior lameness within 3 weeks following birth and 2 of the 3 subsequently died. These symptoms have been previously associated with white muscle disease. White muscle disease results from both vitamin E and selenium deficiencies. While whole blood and liver selenium levels in 3 animals with white muscle disease were above recommended levels, serum vitamin E (α-tocopherol) levels for MRC calves were lower than levels observed in free-ranging neonatal calves in interior Alaska (Tanana Flats). Furthermore, mean serum vitamin E levels in adult cows during March at the MRC (0.08 μg/ml) were alarmingly lower than free-ranging Tanana Flats moose (2.8 μg/ml). We observed vitamin E deficiencies in animals fed diets with 5 IU/kg feed. Our data suggest that clinical symptoms of vitamin E deficiencies in adult moose may be difficult to detect, unless animals are reproducing. Following supplementation of vitamin E to 220 IU/kg in our pelleted ration during 1999, we observed no abortions and only 1 cow had still-born twin claves, but this was attributed to dystocia. Indeed, during 1999 only 2 of 16 calves identified in utero died of nonpredation causes. Although a vitamin E deficiency in free-ranging moose is unlikely, low selenium levels have been observed in free-ranging ungulate populations. Mean whole blood selenium levels in Tanana Flats moose (0.12 μg/g) were significantly lower than MRC adult cows (0.16 μg/g) fed a supplemented diet. More importantly, 8 of 10 animals from the Tanana Flats had selenium levels ≤ 0.085 μg/g and were below recommended levels for domestic cattle. Given the lack of data on soil selenium levels in Alaska, deficiency-related neonatal losses may occur that are attributed to other causes of mortality. It will be difficult to quantify in utero and neonatal calf losses resulting from selenium and vitamin E deficiencies if blood or tissue samples from study locations are not examined. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Stephenson, Thomas R. Crouse, John A. Hundertmark, Kris J. Keech, Mark A. |
spellingShingle |
Stephenson, Thomas R. Crouse, John A. Hundertmark, Kris J. Keech, Mark A. VITAMIN E, SELENIUM, AND REPRODUCTIVE LOSSES IN ALASKAN MOOSE |
author_facet |
Stephenson, Thomas R. Crouse, John A. Hundertmark, Kris J. Keech, Mark A. |
author_sort |
Stephenson, Thomas R. |
title |
VITAMIN E, SELENIUM, AND REPRODUCTIVE LOSSES IN ALASKAN MOOSE |
title_short |
VITAMIN E, SELENIUM, AND REPRODUCTIVE LOSSES IN ALASKAN MOOSE |
title_full |
VITAMIN E, SELENIUM, AND REPRODUCTIVE LOSSES IN ALASKAN MOOSE |
title_fullStr |
VITAMIN E, SELENIUM, AND REPRODUCTIVE LOSSES IN ALASKAN MOOSE |
title_full_unstemmed |
VITAMIN E, SELENIUM, AND REPRODUCTIVE LOSSES IN ALASKAN MOOSE |
title_sort |
vitamin e, selenium, and reproductive losses in alaskan moose |
publisher |
Lakehead University |
publishDate |
2001 |
url |
http://alcesjournal.org/index.php/alces/article/view/567 |
genre |
Alces alces Alaska |
genre_facet |
Alces alces Alaska |
op_source |
Alces: A Journal Devoted to the Biology and Management of Moose; Vol. 37 No. 1 (2001): Alces Vol. 37 No. 1 (2001); 201-206 2293-6629 0835-5851 |
op_relation |
http://alcesjournal.org/index.php/alces/article/view/567/649 http://alcesjournal.org/index.php/alces/article/view/567 |
_version_ |
1766260576557727744 |