Influence of selenium administration to dry cows on selected biochemical and immune parameters of their offspring

Abstract

The study was performed on 16 Holstein-Friesian calves divided into two groups of eight animals each. The first group was composed of calves whose mothers did not receive selenium supplements (Se0). The second group consisted of calves whose mothers were administered intramuscular injections of a selenium and vitamin E supplement containing 0.5 of sodium selenite/ml and 50 mg of tocopherol acetate/ml in a single dose of 30 ml (Se30) ml, 10 days before the expected parturition date (10 ± 2 days). The calves were fed 2.5 L of the mother's colostrum administered by stomach tube 2 hr after birth and another 2 L 6 hr after birth. Blood from all calves was collected 7 times from external jugular vein (day 0-before colostrum administration and on the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 7th, 14th and 21st days of life) for analyses of selenium, ceruloplasmin, transferrin, lactoferrin, immunoglobulin G (IgG) concentrations and gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) and lysozyme activity. Selenium concentration was significantly higher in calves whose mothers received selenium supplements than in the offspring of non-supplemented cows until 72 hr after birth (p ≤ .05).Lysozyme and GGTP activity and IgG concentration were significantly higher in the S30 group during the entire experiment (p ≤ .05). Supplementation of selenium to the mothers did not influence the ceruloplasmin, lactoferrin and transferrin levels in calves. A single injection of a selenium supplement administered to cows during late pregnancy increases selenium levels in calves and enhances passive transfer from the mother to the offspring.

Hazelnut Skin in Ewes’ Diet: Effects on Colostrum Immunoglobulin G and Passive Transfer of Immunity to the Lambs

“…IgG concentrations were higher in colostrum following alpha-tocopherol supplementation in the last gestational period in sows [ 69 ]. According to Żarczyńska et al [ 70 ], the administration of selenium and α-tocopherol to cows during late pregnancy enhanced passive immunity transfer from the mother to the offspring, with higher IgG blood concentration in newborns. Moreover, the action of natural α-tocopherol on the immune system functionality was considerably higher compared to the synthetic vitamin E supplementation in ruminants [ 71 ].…”