Effect of dietary selenium source, level, and pig hair color on various selenium indices

The first experiment evaluated the effects of feeding various levels of Se, two Se sources, and hair color on selenosis responses in growing-finishing pigs. The study conducted in two replicates was a 2 x 6 x 2 factorial arrangement in a split-plot design. Sodium selenite and Se-enriched yeast added at 0.3, 1, 3, 5, 7, and 10 ppm Se served as the main plot and pig hair color as the subplot. A total of 96 crossbred pigs were allotted and fed their treatment diets for a 12-wk period. White and dark (red or black) hair samples were collected from the dorsal-midline at the 4-, 8-, and 12-wk periods from one pig of each hair color from each treatment pen. Lower pig weights (P < 0.10) and daily gains (P < 0.05) occurred as dietary Se level increased when pigs were fed either Se source. Selenosis responses were somewhat more severe, when the inorganic Se source was fed. Alopecia and hoof separation were encountered after the 8-wk period when pigs were fed inorganic rather than organic Se. Plasma Se increased as dietary level increased (P < 0.01), when organic Se was provided (P < 0.01), and was higher (P < 0.05) when pigs were white-haired. A time x hair color x dietary Se level interaction (P < 0.05) occurred, in which hair Se concentration was higher in dark- than in white-colored pigs and increased as dietary Se level increased as the experiment progressed. The correlation coefficient between dietary Se level and hair Se concentration averaged 0.90 (P < 0.01). Cysteine was the amino acid in the highest concentration in hair, but this and other amino acids were not affected by Se level, Se source, or hair color. A second experiment was a 3 x 6 factorial arrangement in a split-plot design with three 9-mo-old gilts from each of the Yorkshire, Duroc, and Hampshire breeds to determine whether hair Se concentration differed by body location and breed. Hair samples were collected from the shoulder, back, rump, front-leg, belly, and hind-leg areas. Hair Se concentration was higher in red- and white-haired pigs and lower in black-haired gilts (P < 0.01). Higher hair Se concentrations (P < 0.05) occurred from the lower than from the upper body areas. Our results suggest that selenosis occurs at dietary levels > 5 ppm and that white-haired pigs exhibit alopecia sooner than dark-haired pigs. No difference in hair Se concentration occurred when diets were < 1 ppm Se, but as dietary Se level increased dark-haired pigs retained more Se in their hair than white-haired pigs.