8th September 2016
MEDIA RELEASE
Global experts set to share selenium wisdom
New Zealand farmers, producers and animal health professionals (veterinarians, nutritionists, feed companies), are being
urged to take advantage of a free one-day seminar to help boost animal health and productivity.
Focusing on the essential key mineral, selenium, the seminar presents world-renowned experts, Professor Peter Surai and
Dr. Kevin Liu, sharing the latest global research and developments in selenium nutrition and supplementation.
Attendees will learn first-hand about the importance of selenium as an antioxidant in modern New Zealand intensive
animal production. They’ll also be given an insight into the performance of different sources of selenium for both
ruminant (dairy, beef, sheep and goats) and monogastric animals (pigs, layer hens, broilers, horses and pets).
Event organiser, Trina Parker, Country Manager BEC Feed Solutions, says the seminar is a New Zealand-first, and a must
for anyone interested in improved animal performance, enabling them to learn first-hand about some of the latest global
developments in selenium supplementation.
“It’s well known that New Zealand has low selenium soils, and because it’s not essential for plant growth, this vital
mineral is often over-looked. We’re keen to raise awareness of the fact selenium is vital to animal health and
production and therefore supplementation is essential. The link to human nutrition of optimised selenium in animal
products is an area that is waiting to be explored,” explains Ms Parker.
The event is split into two; a morning session (10am -12 noon) focusing on selenium in ruminant production and nutrition
(including dairy, goats, beef and sheep), followed by an afternoon session (1-3pm) reviewing selenium in monogastric
production and nutrition. Participants can attend the full day or choose from the morning or afternoon sessions.
Attendees can expect to come away from the event armed with knowledge on the difference in selenium uptake, storage and
deposition in milk, meat and eggs, how to improve the antioxidant status of NZ livestock, consequences of low selenium
status in a New Zealand situation, and overall benefits of effective selenium supplementation.
Ms Parker highlights the fact that interesting new research indicates selenium supplements currently available in NZ are
not as bio-available to the animal as initially believed.
“This is a major concern for NZ animal production, particularly in the dairy sector where selenium options have until
now been limited to sodium selenite/selenate and selenium yeast. That’s why we’re excited by new developments in this
field, with the introduction of two new unique selenium products to the New Zealand market. The ease of application of
these products is the most exciting aspect, particularly the liquid organic selenium option, which enables water
application of this vital mineral,” says Ms Parker.
Ms. Parker says the seminar has been organised to coincide with the New Zealand launch of two new organic selenium
products which are unique in the market; Selisseo 2% Se is the only pure source of seleno-hydroxy-methionine and will be available in both powder and liquid forms, and is the
only liquid organic selenium product in NZ. Selisseo is something quite new and different for NZ producers, combining purity, reliability, stability and ease of use with
100 per cent efficiency.
The seminar is being held at the Hamilton Airport Hotel and Conference Centre on 28 October. Pre-registration is
essential viawww.becfeedsolutions.co.nz/news/ or by calling 0800 BEC 001. Registration closes 21 October 2016. A light lunch will be provided for those attending
both sessions.
Ends
Notes to editors:
• Professor Peter Surai, Feed-Food, UK, Technical Director. Professor Surai is a true expert in the leading
science of antioxidants in feed production and food production with 740 publications to his name, including 144 papers
in peer-reviewed journals.
• Dr. Kevin Liu, Adisseo Asia Pacific P/L, Singapore, Vice President, Technical Services & Business Development. Dr Liu began his professional career with studies on selenium nutrition in the early 1980s, with
accumulated wealth of knowledge and experience in various nutrition fields. He has published approximately 160 papers in
this area.
• Media interviews are available on the day from 3pm. To request an interview slot, please contact: