Chemical Analysis of Selenium and Copper Levels in Virginia Cattle Herds

Copper and selenium play an important role in maintaining a healthy cattle herd. Both of these minerals work with enzymes to reduce peroxides that could potential cause tissue damage. Random samples of blood, serum, and liver were taken from various cattle herds across Virginia. Serum was used to determine the copper concentrations, while blood and liver samples were used to determine selenium concentrations. The objective was to determine whether herds across Virginia had deficient, adequate, or toxic levels of copper and selenium. The various samples were either diluted with or dissolved in acid, while the concentrations were determined by using the Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer. Both sets of cattle tested for copper were deficient. The first set of selenium samples was slightly deficient and normal, but the second set of selenium samples generally had levels that were reaching toxic levels. Based on the results, the trend for copper levels to be deficient in herds across the state, while selenium concentrations appeared to be adequately supplemented or reaching toxic levels.