Author : Whitney C. Stewart
Publisher :
ISBN 13 :
Total Pages : 141 pages
Book Rating : 4.:/5 (69 download)
Book Synopsis Effect of Selenium Source and Supplementation Rate in Ewes on Selenium Status, Passive Immunity and Growth Performance of Their Lambs by : Whitney C. Stewart
Download or read book Effect of Selenium Source and Supplementation Rate in Ewes on Selenium Status, Passive Immunity and Growth Performance of Their Lambs written by Whitney C. Stewart and published by . This book was released on 2010 with total page 141 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Selenium (Se) is an essential micronutrient of sheep. Supplementation is especially important in young lambs in order to prevent Se-deficiency signs. In the United States, the FDA regulates Se supplementation to ruminant diets at a level of 0.3 mg/kg Se (as fed basis). Questions still exist regarding what chemical form of Se is the most bioavailable supplement and what are the best supplementation rates for optimal productivity. Three interrelated experiments from the same study were conducted 1) to evaluate the effect of Se source and supplementation rate in ewes on Se status of their lambs at birth, 2) to examine the effect of Se source and supplementation rate on IgG concentrations in ewe colostrum and lamb serum, and 3) to evaluate the effects of Se source and supplementation rate on ewe reproductive performance and subsequent vitality and growth performance of their lambs. For these experiments, 240 ewes were divided into 8 treatment groups and drenched weekly (at an amount equal to their summed daily intake) for one year, including during gestation and early lactation, with no Se (deficient); at recommended levels (0.3 mg/kg) with inorganic sodium selenite, sodium selenate, or organic Se-yeast (Se-Y); or at supranutritional levels (0.9 and 1.5 mg/kg) with sodium selenite or Se yeast. In the third experiment, 88 ewes continued the study into year two for an additional 28 weeks. Year two treatments included no Se (deficient) ewes (n = 25); ewes supplemented at recommended levels (0.3 mg/kg) with organic Se-Y (n = 20); ewes supplemented at supranutritional levels (0.9 and 1.5 mg/kg) with organic Se-Y (n = 18 and 27, respectively). In the first experiment, which assessed the effects of Se source and supplementation rate in ewes on Se status of their offspring, we found that Se administered by weekly drenching of ewes during gestation and early lactation was effective at increasing Se concentrations in ewe colostrum and milk at 30 days in milk (DIM), and in improving the Se status of lambs (whole-blood and serum Se at birth, and skeletal-muscle Se at 14 days of age) (all P 0.001). Selenium concentrations in lacteal secretions and lambs were higher in ewes drenched with Se yeast compared to ewes drenched with inorganic Se sources (P 0.01). Selenium concentrations in lacteal secretions and in lambs increased linearly with supranutritional concentrations of Se yeast (P