SELENIUM CONTENT OF BISON, ELK AND MULE DEER

Selenium (Se) content of elk, mule deer, bison and beef skeletal muscl e was measured and compared. Selenium content was determined by graphi te furnace after wet nitric acid digestion. Game samples did not diffe r in Se content but contained more Se than beef (wet weight) (P<0.05). On dry weight basis, deer contained more Se than elk, bison or beef ( P<0.05). Within samples from male elk and deer, and elk and bison of b oth genders, there were interactions between species and muscles (P<0. 05). Type of muscle and gender did not influence Se content (P<0.05). Selenium toxicity from consuming game that foraged in high selenium en vironments is remote.