White muscle disease (WMD), also known as “palsy” or “nutritional myopathy” is a nutritional disorder caused by a dietary deficiency in selenium and Vitamin E. It is a very common disease caused in calves and young cattle whose parents graze the fodder grown in selenium deficit soil. The heart muscle tissues, skeletal muscles, and diaphragm are some of the main organs affected by WMD. This disease is more prominent in areas where the soil is deficient in selenium. At the same time, poor storage facilities result in poor quality of forage leading to Vitamin E deficiencies. Both selenium and vitamin E are antioxidants that help protect against cell damage.
Through this informative blog by Refit Animal Care, we shall understand what causes white muscle disease in cattle, its symptoms, treatment, and prevention. We will also discuss SE CARE BY REFIT, a fully formulated and researched cattle feed supplement that can help in avoiding white muscle disease in cattle.
Symptoms of White Muscle Disease
White muscle disease symptoms include:
- Muscle weakness in affected calves
- Inability to stand or walk
- Muscle stiffness or rigidity in the limbs of the calves
- Difficulty breathing due to heart muscle stiffness or rigidity
- Sudden death
- As affected cattle have pale or white muscle tissue it is known as “white muscle disease”
Causes of White Muscle Disease
- Selenium deficiency
Selenium is essential for the appropriate functioning of various body systems. It protects cells from oxidative damage as selenium deficiency may initiate the degeneration of muscle tissue.
- Vitamin E deficiency
Vitamin E has an equal role along with selenium to protect cells from oxidative damage. A deficiency of selenium and vitamin E is known to increase the risk of WMD multifold.
- Poor-quality forage
Quality of forage is one of the causes of WMD. When cattle graze low-quality forage, especially the forage that is grown in the soil that already has deficient amounts of selenium and other minerals, leads to selenium and vitamin E deficiencies. Even feeding quantity of forage plays an important role in said deficiencies leading to WMD.
- Stressful surroundings
Frequent transportation, unhygienic conditions, poor storage facilities for the forage, and high temperatures can also lead to deficiencies in the required minerals in the body of the cattle. This increases the chance of acquiring WMD due to decreased immunity.
Treatment of White Muscle Disease
The key treatment is to provide well-researched and branded selenium and Vitamin E feed supplements along with regular feed or through intramuscular injections. Animal feed supplements help to enhance selenium and Vitamin E levels in the body.
Prevention is always welcomed and is better than the cure! Thus being aware is the best way to be proactive rather than reactive. Follow the following strategies to avoid selenium and Vitamin E deficiencies.
- Regular soil testing for selenium deficiencies.
- If the soil is test deficient in selenium and Vitamin E, it can be replenished through appropriate fertilizers.
- Analyze forage for selenium content levels.
- Regular feeding of animal feed supplements can help boost the immune system and have healthy cattle.
- Provide a well-balanced diet including animal feed supplements containing adequate amounts of selenium and vitamin E.
- SE CARE by Refit is a well-researched and branded formula that can provide a balanced amount of Vitamine E and selenium supplements to cattle, cows, buffalo, sheep, goats, and other livestock animals.
- SE CARE, a popular powdered selenium and vitamin E supplement contains high-quality vitamins and minerals to help reduce leg weakness and prevent white muscle disease. Contact us for any further information about SE CARE and other animal feed supplements.
It is important to understand that any disease can be prevented through regular observations and being attentive to the symptoms shown by your cattle. Periodic observations, relevant laboratory testing, and attentive proactiveness will help you to have healthy and productive cattle.
