The effect of different levels of organic selenium on body mass, bodyweight gain, feed conversion and selenium concentration in some gilts tissues

Abstract

Thirty-nine gilts, 82 days old, divided into 3 groups, were fed the main diet supplemented by 0; 0.3 and 0.6 mg Se/kg in the form of Seenriched yeast during 99 days. Selenium levels of 0.3 and 0.6 mg/kg diet led to no significant bodyweight gain nor increase in body mass in any of the studied periods. However, gilts fed a diet supplemented with selenium (0.3 and 0.6 mg/kg) during the whole research period had somewhat higher body mass (1.17 and 3.36%, respectively) and higher average daily bodyweight gain (1.07 and 4.30%, respectively). Selenium supplemented diet influenced also more efficient feed conversion for 3.11 and 2.18%, respectively. The highest content of selenium was observed in the kidneys, then in liver and heart whilst the lowest selenium content was observed in the leg and neck musculature. Selenium concentration in kidneys ranged from 1.23 mg/kg to 1.38 mg/kg and no statistically significant differences were established among studied groups. Selenium concentration in the liver was 3-4 times lower, and in the heart muscle even up to 6 times lower in comparison with the kidneys. Among the studied groups statistically significant differences were established (P<0.01) for selenium levels in liver and heart muscle. The highest levels were observed in the group fed 0.6 mg Se/kg diet, that is, in the liver 0.511 mg/kg and in the heart 0.313 mg/kg. Selenium concentration in the leg and neck muscle was twice, i.e., three times higher in gilts fed 0.3 mg Se/kg and 0.6 mg Se/kg diet in relation to animals fed no supplemented selenium diets (P<0.01).