Evidence of Severe Selenium Deficiency In Georgia Soils and Forages.

In animal nutrition, selenium is required in trace quantity, but its deficiency can reduce animal health and performance.  On the other hand, if selenium intake exceeds the tolerance limit, serious chronic and acute toxic consequences may occur, including death.  A limited scale national survey conducted in the past categorized most Georgia soils and forages as marginally deficient in selenium, whereas the coastal belt of the state was categorized as deficient.  Another limited national survey of the state veterinarians and state veterinary diagnostic laboratories categorized Georgia as a state with mild selenium deficiency.  In our studies, we observed that Georgia soils were critically deficient in selenium regardless of geographic region and soil type.  As a result, the forages produced across the state were also deficient in selenium regardless of forage and soil types. We concluded that selenium deficiency in Georgia soils and forages is much more severe and widespread than assumed. More research is needed to further study selenium deficiency in Georgia.