Chitosan Nano-Selenium Supplementation Improves Production Performance, Egg Quality, and Selenium Deposition in Aging...

Chitosan nano-selenium has gained attention for its potential benefits in poultry nutrition, but its effects on the production performance, egg quality, and selenium deposition in laying hens have not been fully explored. This study aims to fill this gap by evaluating the impact of different doses of chitosan nano-selenium on laying hens, by focusing on optimizing both production performance and selenium enrichment in eggs, which could have significant implications for poultry nutrition and human health. In this experiment, 600 (48-week-old) Lohmann breeders were randomly assigned to five experimental groups, each receiving varying levels of chitosan nano-selenium supplementation (0.1 mg, 0.3 mg, and 0.5 mg selenium/kg), with a blank control group included for comparison. Production performance indicators, egg quality parameters, and selenium content in various tissues and eggs were measured across groups. The results showed that while cumulative egg production slightly decreased in the supplemented groups, significant improvements were observed in egg quality, particularly in the Haugh unit and yolk index at week 4, along with enhanced egg stability during storage. Furthermore, selenium supplementation resulted in higher selenium concentrations in the serum, liver, oviduct, ovary, and eggs, with the 0.3 mg selenium/kg group showing the most significant increase. In conclusion, the supplementation of 0.3 mg selenium/kg of chitosan nano-selenium effectively enhanced egg quality, improved storage stability, and increased selenium deposition in laying hens without negatively affecting overall production performance. This study underscores the potential of chitosan nano-selenium as a promising nutritional strategy to optimize poultry health and improve the production of selenium-enriched eggs.