Effects of dietary vitamin E on the growth performance, antioxidative status, and some immunological blood parameters in growing mink (Mustela vison) fed dry feed

Abstract

Ninety standard dark male minks (8 wk of age) were used to investigate the effects of vitamin E (VE) supplementation on growth performance, antioxidative status, and some immunological blood parameters. The dietary treatments included a basal diet (containing 20.86 mg kg−1VE) supplemented with 0 (control), 50, 100, 200, 400, or 800 mg kg−1VE. The results showed that VE supplementation of 200–400 mg kg−1increased (P < 0.05) the body weight, average daily feed intake, average daily gain, and gain to feed ratio of the mink from days 1 to 30. At days 30 and 60, the minks fed diets supplemented with 400 mg kg−1VE had higher (P < 0.05) concentrations of serum superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, and catalase than either the control or the VE50 groups but had activity levels similar to those of the VE200 and VE800 groups. Feeding a high dose of VE (400–800 mg kg−1diet) resulted in a significant increase in the concentrations of α-tocopherol and a reduction in the reactive oxygen species content in the serum. Vitamin E supplementation of 200–400 mg kg−1increased (P < 0.05) the concentrations of immunoglobulin G, interleukin-2, and soluble CD4/soluble CD8and decreased (P < 0.05) the content of soluble CD8in the serum. Overall, the suitable level of VE supplementation was found to be 200–400 mg kg−1diet for growing mink.