Effect of Different Levels of Selenium Supplementation on Growth Rate, Nutrient Utilization, Blood Metabolic Profile, and Immune Response in Lambs

Abstract

Eighteen male lambs (8-9 months of age, 25.00 +/- 0.90 kg body weight) were divided into three groups of six animals in each and fed a total mixed ration (TMR) containing concentrate mixture (30% maize grain, 27% soybean meal, 40% wheat bran, 2% mineral mixture, and 1% common salt) and wheat straw in 65:35 ratio and supplemented with selenium (Se) as sodium selenite at 0 (T1, control), 0.15 (T2), and 0.30 ppm (T3) levels. Experimental feeding was done for a period of 90 days including a 6-day metabolism trial. To assess the growth performance, lambs were weighed every 15 days throughout the experimental period. All the lambs were intramuscularly inoculated with a single dose (2 ml) of haemorrhagic septicaemia oil adjuvant vaccine on 0 day to evaluate the humoral immune response. Blood samples were collected on 0 day and thereafter at 30 days interval. Results revealed that supplementation of Se both at 0.15 and 0.30 ppm levels had no significant (P > 0.05) effect on intake and digestibility of dry matter, organic matter, crude protein (CP), ether extract, neutral detergent fiber, acid detergent fiber, and hemicellulose; balances of calcium and phosphorus; and level and intake of digestible CP and total digestible nutrients. Se supplementation also had no significant (P > 0.05) effect on the levels of serum total cholesterol, total protein, albumin, globulin, albumin/globulin ratio, tri-iodothyronine (T(3)), thyroxine (T(4)), and T(4)/T(3) ratio; and serum glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase and serum glutamate pyruvate transaminase enzyme activity in the lambs. However, there was a significant (P < 0.05) increase in the plasma Se levels, red blood cell glutathione peroxidase enzyme activity, and humoral immune response in both the Se-supplemented groups. Feed (TMR) required per kilogram gain was less by 11.1% and 16.5% in groups T2 and T3, respectively, as compared to control (T1) group. Average daily gain was highest (108.5 g) in group T3, followed by group T2 (98.2 g), and lowest (89.06 g) in the control group (T1). These results indicated that supplementation of 0.15 and 0.3 ppm Se in the diet (having 0.19 ppm Se) of lambs significantly improves their immune response and antioxidant status.

Parenteral Selenium and Vitamin E Supplementation to Lambs: Hematology, Serum Biochemistry, Performance, and Relationship with Other Trace Elements

“…In contrast, Vignola et al [27] observed no difference for Ck activities between Se supplemented (inorganic and organic forms) and control lambs. Similar results were also reported for AST activities in lambs supplemented with inorganic or organic forms of Se compared to unsupplemented lambs [12,24,30].…”

“…In beef calves Se and vit E injection on days 0 and 28 of experiment had not significant effects on calf performance during the study [29]. In contrast, Se supplementation as inorganic or organic forms for 90 days caused better average daily gain in male lambs [12,30]. Similar results were also reported after injection of 0.1% sodium selenate alone or with vit E to ewes on lamb body weight at day 60 postpartum and daily weight gain in comparing with control group [31].…”

“…The importance and roles of Se, selenoproteins, and vit E in muscle function and other veterinary important viewpoints were presented [5][6][7][8][9]. However, beneficial effects of nutritional or parenteral administration of vit E and Se have not been universal among studies [10][11][12].…”

Selenium supplementation at low doses contributes to the antioxidant status in Trichinella spiralis-infected rats

“…The immune status is positively influenced by Se application (McKenzie et al 1998;Hoffmann and Berry 2008). A positive effect on the immune response and an improvement of the antioxidant status was established by Kumar et al (2008) when Se, as sodium selenite, was administrated to lambs.…”

Effect of Selenium Yeast Supplementation on Naturally Acquired Parasitic Infection in Ewes

“…Benefits of supranutritional Se-yeast supplementation in ewes included more rapid recovery of foot rot lesions [29], improved immune function (increased Escherichia coli killing by neutrophils, increased antibody titers to the novel antigen keyhole limpet hemocyanin, and increased neutrophil expression of genes involved in bacterial pathogen recognition and response) [30,31], and increased immunoglobulin G transfer to their offspring [32]. Others have shown that Na-selenite or Se-yeast supplementation of 0.15 mg Se/kg of diet increases antibody titers against Pasteurella multocida P 52 vaccination in Se-replete lambs [33,34]. Based on the results, we hypothesized that supranutritional Se-yeast supplementation may decrease GI parasite load.…”