Influence of dietary selenium on performance, tissue selenium content, and plasma concentrations of...

Low-selenium corn-soya diets (.04 ppm Se) supplemented with 0, .1, or .2 ppm was selenium (as Na2SeO3), in the presence or absence of 10 IU of supplemental vitamin E per kilogram, were fed to progeny of selenium-depleted breeder ducks. Ducklings from nondepleted breeders received selenium-adequate diets supplemented with 0, .1, or 1.0 ppm selenium from Na2SeO3. High mortalityyy, extensive muscle necrosis, and depressed early weight gain occurred in ducklings fed the low-selenium diets without added selenium. These effects were not prevented by supplemental vitamin E. None of the above manifestations of selenium deficiency were observed in ducklings fed the low-selenium diets supplemented with .1 or .2 ppm selenium. The addition of up to 1.0 ppm selenium to the adequate-selenium diet had no significant effect on mortality or weight gain. The selenium content of kidney, liver, and muscle increased with the addition of .1 ppm selenium to the low-selenium diet. Relatively small increases in tissue selenium concentrations resulted from the addition, to either diet, or levels of selenium in excess of the nutritional requirement. Glutathione peroxidase in plasma varied directly with selenium additions to the low-selenium diets. Plasma vitamin E increased as dietary vitamin E and selenium were increased. Dietary treatment had no significant effect on the concentration of ascorbic acid in plasma.