Breaking free from the chains of the past Where
truth moves faster than a Holstein calf No law
waiting on some printed page We're charting new
ground in the digital age From genomic codes
to robot facts We cut through the noise, no hold
them back not your daddy's dairy news tonight
we're sparking Welcome to the Bullvine Podcast,
where we challenge conventional dairy wisdom
and deliver the cutting -edge insights that progressive
producers need to stay ahead. I'm your host,
bringing you bold analysis and evidence -based
strategies that transform dairy operations from
ordinary to exceptional. Today's episode tackles
a hidden profit leak that's costing dairy producers
hundreds of dollars per cow annually. We're diving
deep into selenium supplementation strategy and
why the approach your nutritionist recommended
might be throwing money away while leaving your
herd vulnerable to costly health problems. If
you've ever wondered why some operations struggle
with elevated somatic cell counts and reproductive
failures despite using premium mineral programs,
this episode will open your eyes to the uncomfortable
truth about selenium yeast quality. and the game
-changing research that's revolutionizing trace
mineral nutrition. Let's get started. Welcome
to The Deep Dive, the show where we really try
to cut through the noise, you know, and get straight
to the insights that actually impact your operation.
Great to be diving in. And today we're kicking
off with something that, well, it might just
shake up how you think about your bottom line.
Seriously. Go on. Imagine this hidden drain on
your profits. A silent thief, maybe? Costing
you hundreds of dollars per cow, often without
you even realizing it. Okay, that sounds serious.
We're talking about a figure that the latest
Bullvine article flags, and it can easily blow
past $700 per cow. Annually. $700. Oh, cow. Yeah.
Just let that sink in for a second. $700. That's
a number that definitely grabs your attention.
And it points to, well, maybe a blind spot many
producers have, even the ones who feel they're
managing things pretty tightly. Absolutely. Because
the latest research, it's telling a bit of a
different story, isn't it? It really is. So today
we're taking a deep dive into something pretty
fundamental to herd health, but maybe surprisingly
misunderstood. Selenium supplementation in dairy
cows. Right. It's a staple. Everyone uses it.
Exactly. It's not about if you use selenium.
Pretty much every operation does. The critical
question, and this is what that recent Bullvine
article really hammers home, is how you use it.
The how is key. Because, as we're about to unpack
current strategies, the way many are doing it
now, it might actually be bleeding your operation
dry. So our mission today, really, is to arm
you with the cutting edge research. Yeah. Challenge
some of that conventional wisdom. Yeah. Let's
unpack all the layers of this. We want to separate
the real science from maybe just marketing claims,
you know. And show you how to turn what might
be a hidden cost right now. A big hidden cost.
Into a very real competitive advantage for your
farm. It's about optimizing, not just supplementing.
And this isn't just like. academic theory. This
is about your bottom line, your herd's health,
their productivity. Real dollars and cents. Right.
And making smarter evidence -based decisions
right now, especially, you know, with the way
the dairy economy is, it keeps throwing challenges
at us. No doubt about that. The insights we're
sharing today, they're pulled directly from that
Bullvine article. It's really sparked some chatter,
hasn't it? It definitely has. Got people talking.
So yeah, these insights are pretty critical for
anyone looking to really optimize their operation.
Okay, let's get into it. Let's start by really
unpacking that startling number, the one that
immediately caught our eye in the bullvine piece,
$700 per cow. Yeah, it's hard to ignore. It's
a huge chunk of change, and it's tied directly,
they say, to selenium deficiency. So what exactly
makes up this hefty cost? How does not having
enough selenium pile up like that financially?
Well, that $700 figure, it's unfortunately not
just pulled out of thin air. It comes from some
pretty rigorous research, actually. Studies published
in the Journal of Dairy Science, for instance.
Okay. They meticulously quantify the economic
hit from various health issues. And when we talk
selenium deficiency, we're often talking about
a whole cascade of related problems. Like what
specifically? Okay, take mastitis. Super common,
incredibly costly, right? Ugh. Yeah, every producer
knows that pain. A single case can set you back
anywhere from, say, $325 to $457. And that's
not just the obvious stuff like antibiotics or
vet bills. Right, there's more to it. You've
got discarded milk, the extra labor for treatment,
maybe even culling the cow eventually, and definitely
a hit on her future production. It's a comprehensive
blow to profitability. So mastitis alone is a
massive drain. But the article points out the
costs kind of compound, don't they? There's another
big one contributing here. Exactly. Another significant
cost, and one that's often tied to selenium status,
is retained placenta, each case. That can cost
as much as $389. Wow. Another big hit. And here's
the thing. These aren't usually isolated incidents,
right? When a cow is selenium deficient, her
immune system is compromised. That makes her
way more susceptible to a whole chain of issues.
Like a domino effect. Precisely. She might have
a retained placenta, okay? That then makes her
prone to metritis, which then can mess with her
fertility or lead to another bout of mastitis
down the line. Okay, see how it adds up fast.
The costs just accumulate because these complications
cascade. So when you look at the total impact
of multiple issues on one affected cow, Yeah,
it's very easy for that total financial burden
to shoot past $700. So it's the chain reaction,
not just one thing. It's a compounding problem
that just keeps costing you. Okay, so it's not
just the initial disease. It's the downstream
chaos that drives that number sky -high. And
the core problem, as the Bullvine article identifies
it, isn't just the deficiency itself, but how
we're trying to fix it. It points out that a
staggering 60 -80 % of the selenium in current
supplements is basically wasted. Just gone. That's
the kicker. That's money literally being flushed
away, leading straight to those huge losses.
Can you elaborate on that waste? How are producers
accidentally throwing away so much of what they
pay for? Yeah, this is where it gets a bit uncomfortable,
maybe. Yeah. But it's crucial. The waste happens
primarily at the absorption level. It's about
bioavailability. Many traditional selenium supplements,
especially the older inorganic forms like sodium
selenite, while they have notoriously low bioavailability
in ruminants. How low are we talking? Studies
consistently show only about... 10 % to maybe
30 % of that inorganic selenium actually gets
absorbed and used by the cow. Only 10 % to 30
%? Seriously? Seriously. The vast majority, often
70 % to 90%, is either altered by the rumen microbes
into a form the cow can't even use, or it just
passes straight through the digestive system
and out the back end, excreted. So if you're
paying for, say, 100 units of selenium. You might
only be getting the benefit of 10, 20, maybe
30 of those units. The rest. You are quite literally
flushing a huge chunk of your investment down
the drain. Wow. Okay. And that just perpetuates
the underlying deficiency that leads to those
expensive health issues like mastitis and retained
placentas we were just talking about. It's a
documented economic reality, not just theory.
Now, here's where it could get, yeah, maybe a
bit uncomfortable for some listeners, because
the Bullvine article, it really calls out the
feed industry directly on this. What's this dirty
secret they mention when it comes to selenium
yeast? Because lots of producers think they're
already using a better organic form, right? They
think they've solved this. This is a really,
really critical point the article brings up,
and it's a direct result of what new analytical
techniques have shown us. Okay, what's the secret?
For a long time, selenium yeast was positioned
as, you know, the gold standard, the organic,
more bioavailable option compared to the inorganic
stuff. And look, in principle, when it's made
correctly, it can be very effective. But the
dirty secret is the huge, often undisclosed variability
in the active component within these commercial
products. The active component, you mean? Selenomethionine.
That's the key. It's the specific form of selenium
that mimics natural amino acids. The cow's body
is designed to absorb and use that form efficiently.
Okay, so it fits the biological lock, so to speak.
Exactly. Think of inorganic selenium, like trying
to fit a square peg in a round hole. Selenomethionine
is the perfectly shaped key. It's biologically
native, optimized for uptake. So what's the range
of this variability you mentioned? Are we talking
small differences or is it something much more
significant that would actually impact herd performance?
Oh, it's drastic. And this is what hammers a
producer's bottom line without them even knowing
it. There's this advanced lab technique called
speciation analysis. Sounds technical. It is,
but think of it like forensic. science for your
feed. It identifies the exact chemical forms
of selenium in a supplement. And studies using
this, published in livestock science journals,
have shown the actual selenomyphanine content
in commercial selenium yeast products. It varies
wildly. How wild? We're talking levels as low
as a shocking 18%. 18%. 18%, all the way up to
maybe 71 .8%. That is a massive, unacceptable
range for something supposed to deliver consistent
nutrition. Wow. And what's the average then?
The average across these studies was just 55
.8 % selenomethionine. So on average, almost
half isn't even the good stuff. Pretty much.
And if it's not selenopethionine, what's the
other half, roughly, that producers are paying
for if it's not the really effective form? Crucially,
the rest is often inactive elemental selenium.
Inactive, meaning? Meaning it provides zero biological
benefit to the cow. It might be in the product,
it might show up on a general selenium test,
but the cow just can't use it effectively. So
it's just filler, nutritionally speaking. Essentially,
yes. So when the Bullvine article says producers
might unknowingly get as little as 18 % of the
active ingredient they think they're buying,
it's referring to those products at the bottom
end of that quality spectrum. You pay for X amount
of selenium, but only a tiny fraction is actually
usable selenomethionine that helps your cows.
Okay, this is huge. So the takeaway isn't just
organic is better. It's not all organic selenium
is created equal. Not even close. Precisely.
You could be paying a premium price for a product
that's barely better than the cheapest inorganic
option because its actual selenomethionine content
is so low. So you have to ask about the active
ingredient, the verified selenomy and thionine
content, not just the label. You absolutely have
to. This inconsistency is a major issue. Producers
are basically gambling on supplement quality
without even knowing it. This raises a big question
then, doesn't it? If so many farms are already
using what they think are these premium organic
selenium sources, why are they still struggling
with high somatic cell counts with reproductive
failures? The Bullvine article tackles this straight
on. It does. It suggests there's a fundamental
misunderstanding about what organic selenium
even means and what it should deliver. Can you
unpack that misunderstanding? What does the science
really say about... Yeah, it's a critical misunderstanding,
and it gets right to why some strategies just
don't work as expected. The term organic selenium
has become this broad category, right? But its
actual effectiveness hangs entirely on its specific
chemical form. When researchers, when nutritionists
talk about genuinely effective organic selenium,
they are almost always talking about selenomythin.
That's the gold standard within the organic category.
Is there a benchmark for how much selenomethionine
should be in a quality product? Absolutely. According
to solid research from places like the University
of California, San Diego, a truly high -quality,
genuine selenium yeast product should contain
90 % or more of its total selenium in that selenomethionine
form. 90%. That's the target. That's the benchmark.
It's not arbitrary. It's what defines a truly
bioavailable and effective organic source that
will actually deliver the benefits you expect.
Okay, 90%. So what do these independent analyses
of commercial products actually on the market
show? Are they hitting that mark consistently?
Well, this is the problem. The answer is often
allowed no. Really? Yeah. Independent analytical
studies using those sophisticated techniques
like high -performance liquid chromatography,
HPLC. Right, the precision testing. Exactly.
They consistently show that many commercial organic
selenium yeast products routinely fail, often
by a large margin, to meet that crucial 90 %
selenomethionine standard. So the label says
selenium yeast, but the reality inside the bag
is very different. Often, yes. The analysis shows
that while the product contains selenium, a significant
chunk isn't in that highly usable selenomethionine
form. It might be elemental selenium or other
less useful organic forms that don't provide
the same benefit. They just pass through. Which
reinforces that inconsistency issue we just talked
about. Totally. Producers buy something expecting
high bioavailability, but the analytical truth
often falls way short. And that directly leads
to those persistent problems, the high sell counts,
the repo issues, even when producers think they're
using the best stuff. They're investing in a
solution that simply isn't delivering its full
promise. Because the quality isn't guaranteed
or even known sometimes. Exactly. Due to inherent
inconsistencies in the product itself. So what
does all this mean for today's dairy cow? I mean,
these animals are incredible performers now.
The Bullvine article uses that analogy, comparing
them to Formula One race cars. Yeah, I like that
analogy. Can you elaborate on why that's so fitting?
And what does it mean for their nutritional needs,
especially for something like selenium? that
formula one analogy is spot on it speaks directly
to the sheer physiological reality of the modern
dairy cow these animals are genetic marvels right
yeah engineered for maximum performance pushing
their metabolic capacity like almost no other
creature the numbers are pretty staggering they
are think about their intake processing 150,
maybe 200 pounds of dry matter every single day.
That's a mountain to feed needing digestion,
absorption, metabolism. Just churning through
it. And converting that into 100 pounds, sometimes
more, of milk per day. That level of production
demands an incredible metabolic engine running
at full throttle. Constantly. That sounds like
an immense amount of internal work, a constant
high output state. So where does selenium fit
into keeping that high performance engine running
smoothly? Right. So this intense metabolic activity
means their cells, particularly the mitochondria,
the cellular powerhouses, generating all that
energy. Yeah. Back to biology class. Yeah. They
are working serious overtime. And when mitochondria
convert nutrients to energy through normal cellular
respiration, a natural byproduct is the generation
of massive amounts of free radicals. Free radicals,
those are the bad guys, right? Oxidative stress.
Exactly. Highly reactive molecules. If they aren't
neutralized, they damage everything. Cell membranes,
proteins, even DNA. That damages oxidative stress,
it impairs cell function, leads to inflammation,
lowers immunity, hurts reproduction. Okay, so
the harder the cow works, the more of these damaging
byproducts she produces internally. Precisely.
And this is where antioxidants like selenium
become absolutely critical. Ah, the defense system.
Yes. Selenium is a vital component of several
key antioxidant enzymes. The most famous one
is glutathione peroxidase, or GPX. GPX. Take
a look. GPX is the cell's cleanup crew. It's
constantly neutralizing those free radicals,
protecting the cells from oxidative damage. Now,
if that high -producing dairy cow, that Formula
One car, doesn't have enough bioavailable selenium...
The right kind, the usable kind. Her natural
antioxidant defenses are severely weakened. She
becomes highly vulnerable to that constant barrage
of free radicals from her own metabolism, plus
any environmental stressors. And that vulnerability
shows up as... As exactly the problems we keep
circling back to. higher somatic cell counts,
weaker immune responses leading to more mastitis,
mitritis, impaired reproductive performance.
So providing the right form and the right amount
of selenium isn't a luxury item. It's essential
maintenance for the engine. It's a non -negotiable
requirement for these elite athletes to perform
optimally, stay healthy, and stick around in
the herd. Okay, this isn't just theory, as you
said. The Bullvine article backs this up with
some really compelling real -world results. Let's
unpack that landmark study they highlighted from
Balatino Farm in Cremona, Italy. What did they
actually do on that farm, and what were the results
that should really make producers sit up and
take notice? Yeah, this Italian study is a fantastic
example because it demonstrates the tangible
benefits in a real commercial dairy setting.
It wasn't just a lab trial. Right, real cows,
real farm. Exactly. The study... led by Mario
Agavino from Alltech Italy, involved 100 Italian
Holstein cows at Balatino Farm. They set up a
careful comparison. How did they compare them?
They had a control group, 48 cows, getting traditional
sodium selenite, that's the first gen inorganic
stuff we talked about. Then they had a treatment
group, 52 cows, supplemented with a high -quality
organic selenium yeast. specifically cellplex,
known for its high bioavailability. Okay, so
a direct head -to -head comparison. Yes, on the
same farm, same management, over a sustained
period. This allowed them to really see the real
-world impact under commercial conditions. And
what was the first, most immediate difference
they saw? Something quantifiable. The most striking
immediate result was in the milk itself. The
selenium content in the milk doubled. Doubled.
Doubled. Cows getting the organic selenium had
milk selenium levels of 0 .058 milligrams per
liter. The inorganic group, only 0 .029. Wow,
that's a huge difference. What does that mean
practically? Well, it's significant not just
for the cow's own status, but potentially for
the calf drinking that milk. And even for human
consumers down the line, something we can touch
on later with the One Health idea, better nutrition
passing through. Okay, doubled milk selenium
is impressive, but what about the things that
hit the producer's pocketbook directly? Production,
health. Right. Here's where it gets really compelling
for the bottom line. The cows on the organic
selenium produce significantly more milk. How
much more? They average 37 .9 kilograms per day
compared to 36 .5 kilograms for the control group.
That's an increase of 1 .4 kilograms per cow
per day. 1 .4 kilos. That's about three pounds,
right? Just over three pounds, yeah. 3 .08 pounds
per cow per day. More milk. That's meaningful
yield. Definitely. And udder health. Somatic
cells. Big improvement there, too. Somatic cell
counts were significantly lower in the organic
group, down to 272 ,000 cells per milliliter,
compared to 320 ,000 in the control group. Okay,
so healthier udders, less subclinical mastitis.
Exactly. Less inflammation, fewer potential mastitis
flare -ups, less discarded milk. Big savings
there. And reproduction. That's always a huge
factor in profitability and efficiency. What
did the Italian study show there? This is maybe
one of the most dramatic findings. The organic
selenium group showed a massive improvement in
reproductive performance. They hit an 83 % confirmed
pregnancy rate. 83 % compared to what? Compared
to only 67 % in the inorganic group. Wow, 67
to 83%. That's huge for getting cows bred back.
It's a game changer for calving intervals, replacement
rates, all those drivers of profit. And they
drill down into specifics too. Fewer retained
placentas. Only six cases per 100 cows in the
organic group versus 10 in the control. Days
to confirm pregnancy were lower, 130 days versus
139. And services per conception improved down
to 1 .63 from 1 .81. So across the board, better
reproductive efficiency. Every metric pointed
towards a more efficient, more profitable reproductive
cycle for the cows on the optimized selenium.
Real money saved, real money earned. Okay, this
is where, as they say, the rubber meets the road
for producers listening. That 1 .4 kilogram increase
in milk yield per day, you said about three pounds.
What does that actually translate to in dollars
and cents? The Bullvine article did the math,
right? They did, and it really highlights the
return on investment. That 1 .4 kilograms or
3 .08 pounds of extra milk per cow per day. Okay,
it might sound modest on its own. Yeah, per cow
per day. But multiply it across the herd, across
the year. It adds up incredibly fast. At current
milk prices, that translates to roughly $1 .64
in additional revenue per cow. Per day. 64 cents
extra every day from just one cow. Precisely.
Now, extrapolate that out. Over a full year for
just one cow, that's an extra $234 in milk revenue.
$234 per cow per year just from the extra milk.
Yep. Now think about a typical herd size. Let's
use a 100 -cow herd as an example. Okay. That
single improvement in milk yield, just from optimizing
the selenium source, that translates to a whopping
$23 ,400 in additional annual revenue for that
100 -cow herd. $23 ,000. just from switching
the type of selenium. Just from that one component
of the benefit, the extra milk yield. This isn't
guesswork. It's direct, tangible evidence from
that Italian farm study. It shows how a relatively
small tweak in the mineral program can give a
massive boost to profitability. Concrete proof
of ROI. And it's not just an issue specific to
Italy or one region, is it? The Bullvine article
broadens the view, reminding us selenium deficiency
is actually a global problem. What did that big
meta -analysis they mentioned tell us about the
scope? You're absolutely right. It's a worldwide
challenge. It impacts soil, plants, animals,
even human health. It's a big picture issue.
The article references a really comprehensive
meta -analysis. That's where they combine data
from lots of individual studies. This one by
Knowles and colleagues in the Journal of Dairy
Science was huge. It looked at 42 different studies
spanning three decades from 1977 to 2007 across
multiple continents. Gave a real global snapshot.
So what was the main takeaway from looking at
all that data from all over the world over such
a long time? The big overarching finding was
pretty stark. Soils in many regions of the world,
have a low C content, selenium content, yeah.
Okay, so it starts with the ground itself being
deficient. Exactly. It's a fundamental environmental
factor. If the soil's low, the forages and crops
grown on it are low in selenium too. Which means
the animals eating those feeds. And even humans
eating crops from those areas often don't get
enough dietary selenium. It creates this widespread
underlying deficiency right from the start. A
soil problem becomes a feed problem, becomes
an animal health problem. Did that meta -analysis
look at different types of selenium supplements
in different places? Did it show if certain forms
work better globally? It did offer some insights
there, showing geographical variations. For instance,
it specifically noted that in the U .S., cows
supplemented with selenium yeast showed significantly
higher milk selenium levels, around 0 .37 micromoles
per liter, compared to cows getting inorganic
forms. So even across different environments,
the organic yeast seemed to get more selenium
into the milk. That's what this large analysis
suggested, yeah? Yeah. It reinforces the argument
for using those more bioavailable organic forms.
Yeah. Even with regional soil differences, the
form of selenium you supplement with really matters
for getting it into the animal and, importantly,
into the milk. And if the soil deficiency wasn't
enough, the Bullvine article points to another
modern farming practice that kind of makes things
worse accidentally. The sulfur connection. It's
the sulfur issue. How does modern agriculture,
you know, unintentionally contribute to the selenium
problem, almost working against us? Yeah, it's
a classic case of unintended consequences, isn't
it? Modern practices, especially using a lot
of sulfur -containing fertilizers, which are
common and important for other reasons, have
inadvertently made selenium deficiency worse.
Research confirms that sulfur and selenium basically
compete for the same uptake pathways in plant
roots. They use the same doorway into the plant.
Pretty much. And because we apply sulfur fertilizers
at much higher rates than the natural selenium
levels typically found in soil, sulfur just consistently
wins that biological race. The plant takes up
more sulfur, leaving less room, less capacity.
For selenium. So even if there's some selenium
in the soil, the plant grabs the sulfur instead?
Preferentially, yes. Which means lower selenium
content in the forages and crops grown, which
then means lower selenium intake for the cows
eating that feed. It's the silent competition
happening right at the root level that directly
impacts our animal nutrition, makes supplementation
even more critical. Okay, now here's a twist,
something that might challenge what some listeners
assume, and it's why we have to keep looking
at the latest research, right? Always. Science
evolves. The Bullbine article points to a very
recent 2024 study, Cruikshank and colleagues,
Journal of Dairy Science. It offered some surprising
insights, apparently. What did they find? It
sounds like it might muddy the waters a bit on
organic versus inorganic. Yeah, this Cruikshank
study from 2024 is fascinating because on the
surface, it seems to contradict some of what
we've been saying. At least in certain ways.
How so? They studied multiparous Holstein cows.
And their main finding was, and I'm quoting here,
regardless of whether selenium came from organic
or inorganic sources, it did not affect the cow's
absorption of the mineral, their selenium levels,
or their overall performance. Whoa. Okay, that
does sound counterintuitive after everything
about bioavailability in the Italian study showing
big performance differences. If overall absorption
and performance look similar in this specific
study, what was the catch? There has to be a
nuance here, right? There absolutely is a critical
nuance. And the researchers themselves pointed
it out. While overall absorption and maybe some
performance metrics look similar in their trial,
they saw a very important difference elsewhere.
Which was? Organic selenium resulted in higher
selenium levels in milk, with less being excreted
through urine. Ah. Okay, so more going into the
milk, less going out in the waste. Why is that
distinction so important? For a couple of key
reasons. First, higher selenium in the milk means
a more nutrient -dense product. That ties back
to the potential one health benefits for consumers
or calves getting selenium in that highly bioavailable
milk form. Right, the value -added aspect. Second,
less excretion via urine means less mineral waste
going into the environment. That's an efficiency
and sustainability plus. Okay. So, rather than
totally overturning the benefits of organic selenium,
this study subtly highlights something else we
discussed. The importance of product quality
and consistency. How so? Well, it suggests that
even in a study designed to find differences,
If the specific organic product used wasn't perhaps
optimally formulated or consistently high in
selenomycinine, you might not see the full potential
benefits manifest in all parameters measured.
So it reinforces the idea that you need to be
really picky about which organic product you
choose. Exactly. It underscores that the potential
of high -quality organic forms is superior, but
producers still need proof of that quality. It's
not just about the category. It's about the specific
product's verified composition. Got it. Now,
shifting gears, slightly but still highly relevant
heat stress. It's a huge concern. It seems to
be getting worse, right? Absolutely. Major issue
globally. The Bullvine article highlighted some
really compelling research on selenium's role
here, specifically looking at a newer form, hydroxyselenomythinine,
or HMCBA. What did that Journal of Dairy Science
study find? How can this form help cows cope?
Yeah, this HMCBA research is incredibly timely.
Heat stress just wreaks havoc on dairy cows'
health, welfare, milk production, everything.
So this study was done in controlled environmental
chambers. That let the researchers really induce
consistent heat stress and compare apples to
apples. They took mid -lactation Holsteins and
compared standard inorganic selenium. sodium
selenite, with supplementation using HMCBA. See
which one helped the cows handle the heat better.
Precisely. They wanted to see how the different
forms affected the cow's ability to manage the
physiological challenges of being overheated.
And what did they find? Did HMCBA make a real
measurable difference in resilience? The results
were pretty powerful, yeah. Showed a clear advantage
for HMCBA in mitigating those negative effects.
The study found that HMCBA supplementation decreased
some parameters of heat stress -induced oxidative
stress. Ah, back to oxidative stress. Heat makes
it worse. Dramatically worse. Heat ramps up free
radical production like crazy. So finding something
that combats that is huge. So what specific things
improved with HMCBA? Okay, several key things.
First, cows on HMCBA had higher selenium levels
in both their blood serum and their milk during
the heat stress period. So better absorption
and retention when they needed it most. Exactly.
Second, remember glutathione peroxidase, GPX,
that key antioxidant enzyme. Cleanup crew, yeah.
Its activity was maintained in the HMCBA group.
In the control cows getting inorganic selenium,
GPX activity actually declined under heat stress.
So the H. emceeba cows kept their internal defense
system running strong. Right. Third, H. emceeba
led to an increased total antioxidant capacity
overall. A stronger shield, basically. And finally,
they saw decreased levels of oxidative stress
markers. Things like melondialdehyde, hydrogen
peroxide, nitric oxide. These are like the damage
signals in the cells. Seeing them go down means
significant protection. That sounds pretty comprehensive
on the internal resilience front. Did they see
any impact on milk production? Because that usually
takes a nosedive in the heat. Yes. Importantly,
they also saw a tendency for milk yield to increase
in the HMCBA group compared to controls under
heat stress. Although, interestingly, there was
also a tendency for milk fat percentage to decrease
slightly. Hmm. Okay. So maybe a slight composition
shift, but potentially holding on to yield better.
It suggests H and Seba help cows maintain that
antioxidant function and sustain productivity
under really tough conditions. Given climate
trends, optimizing selenium, especially with
these advanced forms like H and Seba, looks like
a critical strategy for building heat resilience
from the inside out. The Bullvine article uses
this helpful framework, categorizing selenium
supplements into generations. It really clarifies
the evolution. Let's start with generation one.
The article calls it obsolete, even though it's
still widely used. What are its main limitations?
Why is it considered so inefficient now? Generation
1 is sodium selenite, the basic inorganic form.
And yeah, obsolete sounds harsh, but from a bioavailability
standpoint, in ruminants, it kind of is. Why?
What's the core problem? Its primary limitation
is just incredibly poor absorption. As we mentioned,
studies consistently show cows only absorb maybe
10 % to 30 % of the selenium from selenite. So
70 -90 % is just... Wasted? Wasted. It's like
trying to fill a leaky bucket. Why is it so poorly
absorbed, specifically in ruminants? What happens
inside the cow's system? It mainly happens in
the rumen, that first big stomach compartment.
The rumen microbes, the bacteria and protozoa
in there, they rapidly reduce the inorganic selenite
into an insoluble form. Basically, they change
its chemical structure. And once it's insoluble?
The cow can't absorb it. It just passes through
the digestive tract and gets excreted in the
manure. It provides very little actual biological
benefit because it can't get into the bloodstream
and tissues to be used in those important enzymes
like GPX. So even if it's the cheapest per pound
or per kilo on the label? It's often the most
expensive when you calculate the cost per unit
of effective usable selenium that the cow actually
benefits from. It's a classic penny -wise, pound
-foolish scenario. Okay, that's Gen 1. Moving
to generation two, selenium yeast. This was hailed
as the organic solution for a long time, a big
step up. But the Bullvine article argues it has
major quality control issues. What are these
dirty secrets that better analysis has uncovered,
even in products maybe seen as premium? Right.
Generation 2 is selenium yeast. It definitely
represented progress because the yeast organism
itself converts inorganic selenium into organic
forms, mainly that key player, selenomethionine,
within its own cell structure. The concept is
solid. But the execution can be highly variable.
That's the dirty secret exposed by these advanced
analytical methods, the speciation analysis we
talked about. It revealed massive, frankly unacceptable
inconsistencies in the quality of commercial
selenium use products out there. Inconsistency
in what specifically? In the actual amount of
selenium present as selenomethionine. Remember,
that's the highly bioavailable form we want.
The analysis showed products on the market ranging
from that low of 18 % selenomethionine all the
way up to maybe 71 .8%. With an average around
55%. Exactly. Meaning... On average, almost half
the selenium in a typical selenium yeast product
might not be in that optimal selenium ethionine
form. So even paying for a supposedly premium
organic source, producers might get a product
where a huge chunk of the selenium is effectively
unusable, or at least not optimal. Precisely.
The rest is often that inactive elemental selenium
or other less valuable organic forms. It just
doesn't contribute much. So while some selenium
yeast products are excellent and meet high standards,
others are really unreliable. Very unreliable.
A producer could pay a premium and unknowingly
get something barely better than basic selenite
because the actual selenomethylene content is
so low. This lack of guaranteed quality control
across the industry for this category is a huge
problem. It directly impacts farm results and
profitability, often completely invisibly to
the producer. Okay, that leads us to generation
three. The Bullvine article calls this the precision
solution. Sounds like a significant leap forward,
really targeted nutrition. What does recent research,
like that brand new 2025 study they mentioned,
tell us about these new reforms? Yeah, Generation
3 really represents that next step. Precision
trace mineral nutrition. These are typically
things like chelated organic trace minerals.
Chelated, meaning? It means the selenium is precisely
bound, usually to specific amino acids. This
chelation process creates a highly stable molecule
that protects the selenium through the rumen,
ensures maximum absorption in the intestine,
and delivers it consistently. So protected delivery,
better absorption. Exactly. The Bullvine article
points to that very recent 2025 study in the
journal Animals. It looks specifically at supplementing
late lactation dairy cows with this type of advanced
organic selenium, often in combination with other
chelated minerals like zinc. And what did that
2025 study find? Did it validate this precision
solution idea, especially regarding immunity
and antioxidant activity? It really did. The
study concluded that supplementation of organic
zinc and selenium in late lactation dairy cows
in the form of chelated zinc amino acid and selenium
amino acid complex had positive effects on immunity
and antioxidant activity. Positive effects on
immunity and antioxidant activity. Key areas.
Absolutely. It shows that these next -gen forms,
engineered for maximum bioavailability and stability,
can directly enhance those critical systems,
the immune response, the body's ability to fight
oxidative stress. Unlike the variable quality
gamble with some Gen2 products, these precision
forms are designed for consistency. The goal
is that every dollar spent delivers the maximum
possible biological benefit. It truly marks a
shift towards making selenium a reliable profit
driver, not just a cost you hope is working.
Okay, to really hammer home the value of upgrading,
the Bullbine article circles back to that Italian
Holstein study. It provides that concrete return
on investment analysis that makes such a powerful
case. Can you break down those verified numbers
again? What was the actual tangible ROI for the
producers who made the switch in that study?
Yeah, this is where the theory gets the bank
account, right? The Balatino Farm study didn't
just observe better cows, they crunched the numbers
meticulously. What was the cost versus the benefit?
Okay, for their 100 -cow herd, the added cost
of upgrading to the optimized organic selenium
program using Cellplex was really quite modest,
just 810 annually. 810 euros for the whole year
for 100 cows, that's the extra investment. That's
the extra investment. Seems pretty minimal in
the grand scheme of running a dairy, right? Definitely.
So what was the documented return on that 810?
The documented benefits were remarkable. They
calculated a total annual benefit of 7 ,380 girls
for that same 100 cow herd. 7 ,000 euros back.
7 ,380 F, so you subtract the 810 cost. The net
benefit was a substantial $6 ,578 annually. Which
is over $7 ,000 US dollars, roughly. Exactly.
And that resulted in an extraordinary return
on investment, an ROI of 9 to 1. 9 to 1 ROI.
9 to 1. For every single euro they invested in
that premium selenium, they got 9 euros back
in documented benefits. That's phenomenal. You
just don't see that kind of return on many farm
inputs. $9 back for every $1 spent. That's...
Wow. That's the verified power they're talking
about. Verified game -changing power. Big...
based on that specific strategy in that trial.
And it wasn't just a vague financial gain, right?
The study linked those returns to very specific,
measurable improvements in the herd's performance.
Can you quickly recap those? Where did that 7
,388 euros in benefits actually come from? Absolutely.
That 9 .1 ROI wasn't magic. It was built on concrete
improvements. First, a huge chunk came from better
reproductive efficiency. They documented nine
fewer open days per cow per year. That alone
was valued at €2 ,700 for the 100 cows. Fewer
open days means faster pregnancies, less time
not milking, bitter calving intervals. Huge efficiency
gain. Massive. Second, the increased milk production
we talked about. That consistent 1 .3 liters
of about 1 .4 kilograms per day per cow increase
added up to 4 ,680 in value for the herd over
the year. That extra milk just keeps flowing.
Okay, so repro and milk yield were the big drivers.
They were huge, but there were others too. Significant
reductions in costly health problems. Retained
placentas were almost halved down from 10 cases
per 100 cows to just 6. That means less vet intervention,
less labor, fewer downstream repo issues. Plus,
lower days to confirm pregnancy, 130 versus 139,
and better services per conception, 1 .63 versus
1 .81. All these factors combined create a healthier,
more productive, and ultimately a much more profitable
herd. This detailed breakdown really shows why
upgrading selenium isn't just a cost. It's a
high return investment. OK, so if the science
is so clear and the economics are that compelling,
I mean, nine to one ROI is incredible. Why isn't
everyone already making the switch? The Bullvine
article touches on some common hurdles, some
implementation challenges. Let's start with the
first one, cost perception. That feeling that
premium selenium supplements are just too expensive.
How do we tackle that? Yeah, it's a very common
first reaction and understandable. You look at
the price per bag or per ton. And yes, the third
-gen precision products often cost two to three
times more than basic inorganic selenite. Right,
sticker shock. But this is where bioavailability
flips the script. You're not just buying selenium.
You're buying effective, usable selenium. Because
these premium forms are absorbed so much better,
delivery may be three to five times more effective
selenium per dollar spent. Ah, so the cost per
effective unit is actually much closer or even
lower. Potentially much lower, yes. The initial
higher unit cost gets rapidly offset by the actual
biological value delivered. You have to think
about the cost of the result, not just the cost
of the ingredient. It's about net value, the
true cost of getting the job done inside the
cow. And the Bullvine article highlights that
with Agovino's research again. Exactly. Mario
Agovino's work powerfully showed that preventing
just one single case of mastitis, which costs
hundreds of dollars, remember. $325 to $457,
yeah. That prevention can actually pay for the
entire herd's annual premium selenium supplement
program several times over. One case pays for
the whole herd for a year. Potentially, yes,
depending on herd size and the specific costs.
But when you frame it like the cost of not preventing
these issues versus the cost of the supplement,
the idea that premium selenium is too expensive
just evaporates. It's an investment that prevents
much larger losses. Okay, that reframes the cost
argument powerfully. Now, speaking of real -world
application and quality, that 2024 Cruikshank
study we discussed. It found similar performance
in some areas despite using organic versus inorganic.
How does that highlight the ongoing need for
producers to be super careful about the specific
product they choose, even within the organic
category? That study is a great reminder that
real -world results depend heavily on product
quality. By showing similar results in some metrics,
even when differences were expected, it really
points a finger at the variability within commercial
organic selenium products. Meaning? Meaning even
if the potential for organic selenium is superior,
if the specific product used in that trial or
the one you buy isn't consistently high in that
crucial bioavailable selenomethiani, well, you
might not see all the benefits you're hoping
for. So the study's results might reflect the
specific products used as much as the categories
themselves. It's certainly a possibility. It
implicitly tells producers, simply buying anything
labeled organic selenium isn't a guarantee. You
absolutely must demand proof of the active ingredient
content, the selenomefining level, and consistency
data from your supplier. Don't just trust the
label. Be an informed, critical buyer. Demand
the data. Got it. And finally, on limitations,
is selenium optimization a silver bullet? Or
does it need careful balancing with everything
else in the diet? Definitely not a silver bullet.
That's crucial to understand. While selenium
optimization is incredibly powerful, it's still
just one piece of a complex nutritional puzzle.
How so? Well, remember that 2025 Animals Journal
study, while it showed positive effects on immunity
and antioxidant status, it also noted that selenium
supplementation induced a reduction in fat percentage
and solids content showed a tendency to decrease.
Ah, so potential trade -offs in milk components.
Potentially, yes, or at least subtle shifts.
It means selenium optimization needs to be integrated
carefully within the entire nutritional program.
You need to balance it with energy, protein,
other minerals, vitamins. Everything has to work
together. You can't just throw in more selenium
and expect miracles if other parts of the ration
are off. It's about strategic integration, not
just adding one thing in isolation. Makes sense.
Holistic approach. Now, we've focused heavily,
and rightly so, on herd health and farm profitability.
But the Bullvine article broadens the horizon
to this concept called One Health. What's this
bigger picture? What's the opportunity here for
dairy producers that goes beyond their own farm
gate? Yeah, the One Health idea is really important.
It recognizes that the health of animals, people,
and the environment are all linked. They influence
each other. And selenium optimization is a perfect
example of this principle in action. How does
better selenium for cows connect to human health
or the environment? Well, remember that meta
-analysis by Knowles et al. It confirmed that
using organic selenium could enhance the selenium
content in milk. Right. We saw that in the Italian
study, too. Doubled the milk say. Exactly. Providing
potential benefits for consumers or calves and
reducing environmental mineral waste. It's a
win -win -win. So producers can actually create
a milk product that offers more direct health
benefits to the people drinking it. making it
more valuable. That's precisely the opportunity.
When you supplement cows with highly bioavailable
organic selenium, it significantly boosts the
selenium level in the milk. And crucially, it's
mostly in that selenomethionine form bound within
the milk proteins. And that form is good for
humans. Highly bioavailable for humans. Studies
show around 90 % absorption from milk. So consumers
drinking that selenium -optimized milk get a
direct usable dose of this essential nutrient.
That sounds like a potentially powerful marketing
angle in today's health -conscious market, a
way to differentiate. It absolutely is. Think
about functional foods, added nutritional benefits.
Consumers are actively looking for that. If a
dairy producer can scientifically demonstrate
their milk offers enhanced levels of a vital
nutrient like selenium. They have a unique story
to tell. A unique selling proposition. It moves
their milk beyond just a basic commodity towards
a value -added product. It taps into that growing
market segment focused on health and wellness.
It could potentially justify a premium price
all while benefiting the herd's health and reducing
mineral waste. It's smart business thinking beyond
the farm fence. Okay, let's get really practical
now. The Bullvine article lays out a clear, actionable
four -phase strategy, a roadmap for making the
switch to an optimized selenium program without
causing chaos on the farm. Let's walk through
it step by step so listeners know exactly what
their next strategic move could look like. Sounds
good. It's a logical progression. Phase one is
diagnostic assessment. This is month one. You
got to start by knowing where you stand. Baseline
testing. Exactly. Comprehensive herd testing
using blood saline analysis. What are your current
levels? The target for optimal status is generally
considered above 8 ,100 micrograms per liter
in plasma, ideally over 100. Why is this baseline
so critical? Because you need to know your starting
point to measure progress later. It confirms
if there's even a need, and it validates the
effectiveness of the changes you make. Plus,
the cost is pretty reasonable, usually around
$15 to $25 per blood sample. A small investment
for vital data. Okay, phase one. Test and know
your numbers. What's phase two? Phase two is
critical product evaluation. This overlaps a
bit, month one to two. This is where you put
your supplier under the microscope. Become an
informed buyer. Precisely. demand specific documentation
as for the exact form of selenium, purity guarantees,
and most importantly, analytical testing results.
Specifically for selenium yeast, you must demand
verification of the selenomethion content. And
if they can't provide it? The Bullvine article
puts it bluntly. If your supplier can't or won't
provide clear, scientifically validated data
on selenomethion content for their used product,
well, that tells you everything you need to know
about its quality and consistency. Big red flag.
Don't accept vague answers. Demand the proof.
Okay, powerful advice. So you've tested, you've
evaluated, you've chosen a high -quality verified
product. What's phase three? Phase three, strategic
implementation. This is maybe month two to three.
You don't necessarily need to switch the entire
herd overnight. Target the change. Yes. The Italian
research strongly suggests focusing your upgrade
efforts on the most critical periods gives the
highest ROI. That means prioritizing your dry
cows and your early lactation cows. Why them
specifically? Because that's when their immune
systems are under the most pressure, when metabolic
demands are peaking. Getting selenium right during
transition and early lactation is absolutely
vital for preventing those costly diseases and
setting them up for a productive lactation. Target
your investment where it counts most first. Smart.
Maximize impact. Okay, phase four. You've implemented
the change in those key groups. Now what? Phase
four. Performance monitoring. This is ongoing,
starting around month three to six and continuing.
First, retest selenium status about 90 days after
you implement the change. Confirm that blood
levels are now consistently in that optimal range.
Verify the change worked biochemically. Yes.
But more importantly, you need to rigorously
track your key performance indicators, your KPIs.
Use that Italian study as your benchmark model.
What KPIs should producers focus on? Look at
somatic cell count trends. Are you seeing that
reduction? Aiming for that drop from, say, 320
,000 down towards 272 ,000 like they saw. Monitor
milk yield. Are you seeing that 1 .4 kilogram
or 3 pound increase per day? And critically,
track reproductive metrics. Is your confirmed
pregnancy rate climbing towards that 83 % mark?
Are days open decreasing? Services per conception
improving. So track the actual outcomes that
prove the economic benefit. Exactly. These are
the direct measurable results that confirm your
strategic upgrade is working and delivering that
ROI. This structured phased approach makes the
transition manageable and the results undeniable
on your bottom line. So let's bring it all together.
Remember that $700 per cow figure we started
with? Hard to forget. The Bullvine article really
drives home that even that might underestimate
the true total economic impact when you factor
in everything, the better health, the improved
reproduction, the higher yield, the potential
milk quality benefits. It all adds up. The research
seems incredibly clear, the economics look compelling,
and the opportunities seem pretty immediate.
Absolutely. The research -backed reality is hard
to argue with. You've got the Italian study with
its stunning 9 .1 ROI showing clear gains. You've
got the meta -analysis confirming organic sources
boost milk selenium. You've got the heat stress
research showing improved antioxidant function
with newer forms like HMCBA. And those recent
2025 studies confirming immune and antioxidant
benefits from third -gen products, the science
is really pointing in one direction. So the choice
really isn't about whether you can afford to
upgrade your selenium program. It's whether you
can afford not to. Right. Preventing just a couple
of cases of mastitis, maybe a few retained placentas
over a year, that easily pays for the entire
herd's premium selenium supplement cost. potentially
several times over based on those cost figures
we discussed. When you look at the cost of those
diseases versus the cost of prevention, the math
becomes very clear. It really seems like one
of the highest ROI opportunities available right
now for immediate implementation on -farm. So,
what's the next step? Your next strategic move
should be clear. Contact your nutritionist this
week. Don't wait. No. Demand a detailed breakdown
of your current selenium program. Ask for the
analytical specifications. Specifically, ask
about selenomethionine content verification,
if you're using yeast. Ask about batch consistency
guarantees. Ask for bioavailability data backed
by research. And if they can't provide clear,
scientifically -backed answers. Then, as the
Bullvine article implies, you've likely just
found a major reason why your current selenium
strategy might be underperforming and costing
you way more than you realize in hidden losses.
Don't settle for guesswork or vague assurances.
Demand the data. The dairy industry today, it
really rewards operators who make decisions based
on evidence, not just tradition, doesn't it?
It has to. Margins are too tight for guesswork.
And this Bullvine article makes it abundantly
clear. Selenium strategy is one area where the
peer -reviewed research points decisively towards
an upgrade, an upgrade that pays for itself and
then generates significant profit through better
health, lower costs, and higher production. The
evidence is strong. So the final crucial question
for everyone listening is this. Will you keep
paying potentially premium prices for inconsistent
results, gambling on product quality you can't
actually verify? Or will you invest in proven
third generation technology that transforms selenium
from a hidden cost center into a documented profit
driver with verified nine to one returns? It's
a choice with significant financial implications.
It really is a decision that could genuinely
redefine your farm's profitability. Something
to think seriously about this week. that's a
wrap on today's episode of the bullvine podcast
if this analysis of selenium supplementation
strategy has you questioning your current mineral
program you're asking the right questions the
research is clear the economics are compelling
and the implementation roadmap is proven remember
the dairy industry rewards operators who make
decisions based on evidence rather than tradition.
Your selenium strategy represents one of the
highest ROI investments you can make for improved
herd health and reduced treatment costs. For
the complete article, with all the research citations,
implementation guidelines, and economic analysis
we discussed today, visit www .thebullvine .com.
You'll find detailed breakdowns of the Italian
Holstein study, the four -phase implementation
strategy, and specific questions to ask your
nutritionist about selenium quality verification.
Don't forget to subscribe to the Bullvine Podcast
for more bold dairy industry insights that challenge
the status quo. Until next time, keep pushing
the boundaries of what's possible in dairy production.
This has been the Bullvine Podcast. Stay progressive.