Blood serum concentrations of selenium in female llamas (Lama glama) in relationship to feeding practices, region of United States, reproductive stage, and health of offspring.

Serum Se and vitamin E concentrations were determined twice in each of 35 female llamas from a high-Se region and 96 female llamas from a low-Se region of the United States. The first determination was taken at a random time during gestation and the second shortly after parturition. At the time of postpartum sampling, a sample was also taken from the cria. Dietary information was collected from each llama owner and a subjective estimate of strength and vigor was assigned by the owner to each cria studied. The mean blood serum concentrations of Se in llamas during gestation and at parturition were 213 and 203 ng/mL, respectively. The mean serum Se concentration was 113 ng/mL in neonatal cria. Among herds, serum Se means varied for the cria (P < .05) and at both sampling times in the females (P < .01). In adult females, mean serum Se was actually higher during gestation (P = .06) and at parturition (P < .01) for the low-Se region than for the high-Se region, but this effect was removed by covariate adjustment for intake of supplemental Se. Serum Se in females was correlated (P < .05) to supplemental Se consumption. Vigor and (or) viability of the cria were not affected by the Se status of the dams (P > .3) or cria (P > .2). However, there were very few weak or stillborn cria in this study.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)