The Role of Selenium in the Antioxidant System of Cattle, Pigs, and Small Ruminants: Implications for Animal Health and Productivity

Oxidative stress contributes to reproductive disorders, immune dysfunction, and reduced productivity in livestock during periods of high metabolic demand and environmental challenge. Selenium supports antioxidant defense systems because it is incorporated as selenocysteine into selenoproteins, including glutathione peroxidases and thioredoxin reductases that detoxify peroxides and sustain redox balance. The review summarizes selenium occurrence and chemical forms in feeds, as well as its absorption, transportation, and storage. The review also outlines the major features of selenoprotein biosynthesis and its prioritized allocation, with an emphasis on cattle, pigs, sheep, and goats. Evidence from multiple sources indicates that selenium status and supplementation interacts with antioxidant capacity, immune competence, thyroid hormone metabolism, reproductive performance, and the transfer of selenium to milk and offspring. In ruminants, rumen microbial transformations can reduce the bioavailability of inorganic selenium salts, and organic sources, such as selenium-enriched yeast, hydroxy-selenomethionine, and selenitetriglycerides, often increase blood and milk selenium more effectively. In pigs, organic selenium is commonly associated with enhanced antioxidant and immune indices in sows and piglets during late gestation, lactation, and weaning, whereas effects on growth performance are inconsistent. The review emphasizes the narrow margin between adequacy and excess and outlines practical considerations for supplementation and monitoring, alongside research needs for emerging selenium forms and functional biomarkers.