The Effect of Selenium in the Hen’s Diet on Egg Production, Hatchability, Performance of Progeny and Selenium Concentration in Eggs

Abstract

Studies were conducted on the effects of supplemental selenium upon the performance of S.C.W.L. hens raised from hatching on selenium-low, semipurified diets (0.02 p.p.m. Se) containing adequate vitamin E. In hens continued on a Se-low laying diet, supplements of 0.015 p.p.m. Se and 0.030 p.p.m. Se as Na2SeO3 significantly increased egg production and hatchability. The Se concentration in the eggs was approximately equal to the dietary Se level throughout a 13 week period. When fed a selenium-low chick starter diet, offspring of the hens receiving 0.030 p.p.m. Se showed improved growth, but no protection against exudative diathesis and no improvement in hepatic glutathione peroxidase activity.When selenium-depleted hens were fed a low selenium (0.027 p.p.m.) practical diet, supplementation of 0.1 p.p.m. Se as selenomethionine significantly increased egg production. Hatchability of fertile eggs from the unsupplemented group fell to 42% after 6 weeks, while the values for the hens receiving either selenite or selenomethionine (0.1 p.p.m. Se) remained at approximately 90%. By 20 weeks, the hens receiving 0.1 p.p.m. Seas Na2SeO3 showed improved egg production as compared to those on the basal diet, and hatchability fell below 10% for the unsupplemented group but remained at 90% for the group receiving Se. The concentration of Se in eggs from hens fed the basal diet alone and supplemented with 0.1 p.p.m. as selenite and selenomethionine was 0.026, 0.121 and 0.124 p.p.m., respectively, after 3 weeks. After 15 weeks eggs from hens fed the basal diet alone and supplemented with 0.1 p.p.m. Se as selenite contained 0.035 and 0.138 p.p.m. Se, respectively. Both supplements of Na2SeO3 and selenomethionine delayed the onset of symptoms of exudative diathesis. The results indicate a nutritional requirement for selenium for normal hatchability, egg production and performance of progeny.