Abstract
BackgroundSelenitetriglycerides are biologically active, organic forms of selenium formed as a result of the modification of selenic acid and sunflower oil. Studies in rats have shown that they are well absorbed and of low toxicity. There are no published studies on selenitetriglycerides supplementation in calves.ResultsIn this study, selenitetriglycerides were administered once orally on the 2nd day of life at a dose of 0.5 or 1 mg Se/kg body weight to each of six Holstein-Friesian calves while six control calves were not supplemented. Blood for determination of selenium concentration, glutathione peroxidase activity, haematological parameters, aspartate aminotransferase, creatine kinase, and lactate dehydrogenase activities and glucose, total protein, albumin, triglycerides, cholesterol, urea, and creatinine concentration was collected before supplementation (day 0) and 1, 2, 5, 10 and 14 days after supplementation. Selenitetriglycerides administration increased (P < 0.01) serum selenium concentration in supplemented calves as early as day1, from a mean of 63.4 to 184.22 µg/l in calves receiving selenium at a dose of 0.5 mg/kg BW, and from 63.17 to 200.33 µg/l in calves receiving 1 mg/kg. Serum selenium concentrations remained significantly higher compared to the control group throughout the experiment. Glutathione peroxidase activity was higher in supplemented than control calves, significantly so in animals receiving the 1 mg/kg dose of Se on the 10th and 14th days (P < 0.05). There were no significant differences in the haematological and biochemical parameters between the groups.ConclusionsThis experiment showed that supplementation with selenitetriglycerides could significantly improve blood selenium status in calves without adverse effects on haematological or biochemical parameters. These findings are essential prerequisites for future studies on selenitetriglycerides supplementation to manage clinical selenium deficiency in calves.
Highlights
Selenitetriglycerides are biologically active, organic forms of selenium formed as a result of the modification of selenic acid and sunflower oil
Selenium concentrations were higher throughout the experiment in the supplemented groups compared to the control group (P < 0.05)
There were no significant differences in any group of the calves’ in other biochemical parameters and no changes over time in all parameters (Table 2)
Summary
Selenitetriglycerides are biologically active, organic forms of selenium formed as a result of the modification of selenic acid and sunflower oil. There are no published studies on selenitetriglycerides supplementation in calves. Nutritional muscular dystrophy (NMD), known as white muscle disease, is the most common clinical disorder caused by selenium deficiency in cattle. The prevalence of clinical selenium deficiency varies widely internationally. It is more commonly observed in pasture-based systems depending on the type of bedrock, pasture selenium content and whether effective selenium supplementation is practiced. Clinical selenium deficiency is less commonly seen in confinement systems where adequately balanced partial (PMR) or total mixed ration (TMR) is fed. Newborn calves should have adequate selenium reserves if the pregnant dam was fed sufficient selenium as the element crosses the placenta. Where gestational selenium supplementation is inadequate, the newborn calf may be born seleniumdeficient [5], and supplementation with this nutrient is required
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