Effect of Dietary Selenium Enriched Micro-Algae Supplementation on Growth Performance and Anti-Oxidative Status of Rabbits Under High Ambient Temperature in Summer Season

Abstract

his study was carried out to investigate the effect of different levels of dietary selenium enriched micro-algae supplementation on growth performance, carcass characteristics, blood biochemical constituents, and anti-oxidative status of rabbits under Egyptian summer conditions. Total of 90 male growing New Zealand White rabbits, six weeks old with an average initial body weight 757.5 g were used in this study. Rabbits were randomly allocated to six experimental groups, with 15 rabbits in each group. The first was a control group, the other five groups offered feed containing, 0.05, 0.1, 0.2, 0.4 and 0.5 mg Sealgae /kg diet, respectively. The results showed that final body weight and average body weight gain were not affected (P>0.05) by selenium enriched micro-algae supplementation. Feed contain Se-algae at 0.2 mg significantly (P<0.011) improved feed conversion ratio, the best feed conversion ratio (2.28 g feed/g gain).Treatment with Se-algae caused significant increase in serum total protein, and globulin concentration while reduce albumin concentration, rabbits fed diet supplemented with 0.1 and 0.2 mg Se-algae were the highest groups in High density lipoprotein (HDL) concentration (55.26 and 54.33 mg/dl, respectively). Dietary treatments with Se-algae significantly (P<0.0001) reduced total cholesterol, Low density lipoprotein (LDL) and total lipids. There was a significant increase in total antioxidant capacity (TAC), Glutathione Peroxidase (GSH-Px), Superoxide dismutase (SOD) and Catalase (CAT) as Se-algae supplementation increased, additionally, rabbit fed diets supplemented with 0.2 and 0.4 mg Se-algae were the highest in T-AOC, (3.28 and 3.19 mMol/L, respectively). Also, rabbit fed diet supplemented 0.2 mg Se-algae recorded the best serum GSH-Px, SOD and CAT (2.68, 47.04 and 640.67mU/ml, respectively). Dietary selenium enriched algae significantly (P<0.0001) reduced thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARS), compared with the control group. As rabbit fed diet supplemented with 0.4 mg Se-algae achieved the best hot carcass weight (1498.79g), dressing (63.20%), edible giblets (3.80%) and total edible parts (67.02%). In conclusion, selenium enriched spirulina supplementation improved growth performance, anti-oxidative status and rabbit utilized Se more efficiently in spirulina as organic form of selenium under hot conditions. Accordingly, rabbit meat can be fortified with selenium through dietary supplementation of selenium enriched micro-algae.

Zinc and/or Selenium Enriched Spirulina as Antioxidants in Growing Rabbit Diets to Alleviate the Deleterious Impacts of Heat Stress during Summer Season

“…The effect of Zn-Se-Sp was positive in hot carcass weight, dressing% and total edible parts compared to the control group. The current results are in line with those of Hassan et al [ 36 ] who stated that rabbits on diets supplied with Se-algae at level of 0.5 mg/kg diet increased hot carcass weight, dressing% and total edible parts%. Moreover, Hassan et al [ 35 ] indicated that Zn-Sp supplementation at 50, 75 and 100 mg/kg diet increased hot carcass weight, dressing and total edible parts% compared with the rabbits fed the control diet.…”

“…The present study showed a positive influence of the supplemented diets on plasma biochemistry indices. These outcomes are consistent with those of Hassan et al [ 36 ] who mentioned that rabbit consumed diet including 50, 70 and 100 mg/kg had high total protein and HDL. In addition, the dietary Zn- and Se-enriched Sp or their combination had no significant effect of A/G ratio, albumin levels and activities of AST and ALT.…”

“…Regarding meat composition, our results agreed with the findings obtained by Hassan et al [ 43 ] who mentioned that dietary addition of Se-algae in rabbit diets at level of 0.2 mg/kg diet decreased EE content of meat. Similarly, Hassan et al [ 36 ] reported that 0.5 mg Se algae/kg diet decreased EE content of rabbit meat. Marounek et al [ 44 ] stated that supplemental Se in the rabbit diet had no impact on CP content of meat.…”

“…Similar to the present findings, Hassan et al [ 35 ] reported that dietary Zn-Sp supplementation at levels of 50, 75 and 100 mg/kg diet caused an increase in marketing BW and improved BWG and FCR. In this regard, Hassan et al [ 36 ] stated that dietary supplementation of Se-algae at 0.05, 0.1, 0.2, 0.4 and 0.5 mg had a positive impact on growth performance of growing rabbits. On contrary, Hosny et al [ 37 ] found non-significant impact on BW and FI of rabbits fed diet including 0.3 mg organic Se/kg diet.…”

“…Zn-Se-Sp improved CP, EE and NFE digestibility compared to the control group. In this direction, Hassan et al [ 36 ] found that rabbits fed diets supplemented with Zn-Sp at 100 mg/kg diet led to a rise in all nutrient digestibilities. Our results suggested that supplemental Zn-Sp or Zn-Se-SP to the growing rabbits improved nutrients digestibility.…”