A deficiency of the trace element selenium in the diet

Chapter 1, Problem 1.66

(choose chapter or problem)

A deficiency of the trace element selenium in the diet cannegatively impact growth, immunity, muscle and neuromuscularfunction, and fertility. The introduction of seleniumsupplements to dairy cows is justified when pastures have lowselenium levels. Authors of the paper Effects of Short-TermSupplementation with Selenised Yeast on Milk Productionand Composition of Lactating Cows (Australian J. of DairyTech., 2004: 199203) supplied the following data on milkselenium concentration (mg/L) for a sample of cows given aselenium supplement and a control sample given no supplement,both initially and after a 9-day period.a. Do the initial Se concentrations for the supplement andcontrol samples appear to be similar? Use various techniquesfrom this chapter to summarize the data and answerthe question posed.b. Again use methods from this chapter to summarize the dataand then describe how the final Se concentration values inthe treatment group differ from those in the control group