Lambs, stiffness

Livestock and other animals are particularly affected by either selenium deficiency or excess selenium. In animals with selenium-deficient diets, liver necrosis arises. In areas with deficient selenium concentrations in soil, calves and lambs develop muscle atrophy, which is referred to as either white muscle disease or stiff muscle disease. Selenium supplementation (often injections) prevents these symptoms. 

Nutritional myopathy also occurs in lambs, with similar symptoms to those of calves. The condition is frequently referred to as stiff lamb disease . Dietary supplements of vitamin E given to pregnant ewes have resulted in increased birth weight and improved vigour and viability of neonatal lambs through quicker times to stand and suck. The National Research Council has recently increased the dietary recommendation for vitamin E several fold owing to its beneficial effects on prolonging the shelf life of lamb at retail. 

A debilitating disease has been observed in lambs grazing on copper-deficient pastures in Western Australia and other countries (Underwood, 1971). Lambs affected by this disease walk with a stiff and staggering gait, and the hind quarters sway in incoordin-ated movement. Many lambs are paralyzed or ataxic at birth and soon die. The condition, known as enzootic neonatal ataxia, can be prevented but not reversed by copper supplementation. 

In Chinese medicine, gum turpentine and rosin (mainly from Pinus tabulaeformis Carr., P. massoniana Lamb., and P. yunnanensis Franch.) have been used for centuries in treating rheumatism, stiff joints, toothache, boils, and sores. Furthermore rosin is used in treating ringworms, chronic bronchitis, and neurogenic dermatitis, among others. They are used both internally and externally. 

---