Selenium: As a constituent of the enzyme glutathione peroxidase, selenium contributes to the protection and maintenance of physiological function of the lipid rich intercellular cementing substance. The recommended level of selenium in dairy diets is 0.3 mg/kg DM (NRC, 2001).
Vitamin E plays an important role in maintaining the integrity of keratinized tissues as the intercellular cementing substance is composed of lipid rich material (Mulling et al., 1999).
The intercellular cementing substances, composed of glycoproteins and complex lipids, are important for epidermal adhesion (Tomlinson et al., 2004).