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White muscle disease in cattle is a common nutritional disease in some parts of the United States. It is caused by a deficiency of selenium and/or vitamin E. Many areas in the United States have soils deficient in selenium. If cattle graze plants or consume hay grown in selenium deficient areas, the cattle may develop symptoms of white muscle disease.

White muscle disease occurs most commonly in calves ranging in age from newborn to four to six weeks. The calves may be born dead or weak. Calves may have difficulty standing to nurse or walking. Death usually occurs within 72 hours. When the muscles of the calves are examined, they appear to be a chalky white color. White muscle disease causes calcium to be deposited among the muscle fibers. The muscles of the leg, back and heart are commonly affected. When the heart muscles turn a white color, calves may die suddenly from heart failure.

Occasionally yearling or older cattle suffer from white muscle disease. Older cattle may show signs of "ill thrift". These include severe diarrhea, a washed out (light colored) and rough hair coat, and a hair coat they doesn't shed in the spring. Eventually the animals will die.

Cows with low levels of selenium may retain fetal membranes after the birth of their calves. Cattle herds with low levels of selenium may be more susceptible to infectious diseases.

Soils formed in the last 10,000 years as a result of volcanic action have very low levels of selenium. This includes areas of the northwest including the states of Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and northern California, Nevada and Utah. Selenium deficient soils are also found on the eastern coast of the United States and the Great Lakes area.

To prevent white muscle disease, cows should have adequate levels of selenium in their feed. Selenium passes to the calf across the placenta but it does not transfer well through milk. A blood test performed by a veterinarian will determine the level of selenium in cows.

If a deficiency is detected, there are several common methods of preventing white muscle disease. Injections of selenium and vitamin E have been used for many years. However, adequate levels of selenium only last for 28 to 45 days after an injection. If a cow is injected one to two months prior to calving, the calf will be born with adequate selenium levels. To maintain adequate selenium in the diet, cattle are offered salt-mineral mixes containing selenium. Molasses products and salt blocks are also used to provide selenium. Selenium may be mixed in the feed. But because selenium is required in very small amounts, commercially mixed feed is preferred to home mixed feed.

Some cattle producers use heavy pellets that lodge in the first part of the ruminant stomach to provide a constant level of selenium. Selenium is also added to fertilizer to increase the level of selenium in hay and pasture used for cattle feed.

Care must be taken to administer the correct levels of selenium. Selenium is toxic in large amounts and may cause cattle to loose hair and hooves and eventually die.

With proper management, white muscle disease may be easily prevented in cows and calves.

Learn more about this author, Kim Dieter.
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