Effect of selenium supplementation on survival, liveweight and wool weight of young sheep on Kangaroo Island, South Australia

1979 ◽  
Vol 19 (101) ◽  
pp. 689 ◽  
Author(s):  
SK Walker ◽  
GP Hall ◽  
DH Smith ◽  
RW Ponzoni ◽  
GJ Judson

The responses in liveweight, wool weight and survival, to selenium supplementation, were studied in young sheep from weaning to yearling age. The experiment was conducted over three years. In the first year, one sodium selenite supplementation rate was used (total dose 46.5 mg). During the following two years two supplementation rates were administered (total doses 46.5 mg and 93 mg). Mean concentrations of selenium in whole blood in unsupplemented sheep varied from 0.19-0.56 pmol l-l and from 0.20-0.44 pmol l-1 in the two years in which concentrations were measured. Supplementation, which commenced at lamb marking, increased the selenium concentration in sheep at weaning and thereafter. Selenium supplementation improved the break-of-season weight (P < 0.01) and yearling weight (P < 0.01 ) but not weaning weight (0.05 < P < 0.1 ). Hogget fleece weight was improved (P < 0.01 ) and mortality reduced (P < 0.01) by selenium supplementation. There was a treatment x year interaction in mortality rates (P < 0.01 ). There were no significant differences between the two supplementation rates

2009 ◽  
Vol 54 (No. 7) ◽  
pp. 324-332 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. Misurova ◽  
L. Pavlata ◽  
A. Pechova ◽  
R. Dvorak

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of a long-term peroral selenium supplementation in the form of sodium selenite and selenium lactate-protein complex by comparing selenium concentrations and glutathione peroxidase activity in blood of goats and their kids as well as comparing selenium concentrations in goat colostrums. For the study, a total of 27 clinically healthy pregnant white shorthair goats were used. They were divided to three groups, i.e., the control group (C) without any selenium supplementation, sodium selenite group (E1) and selenium lactate-protein complex group (E2). For four months, experimental goats received 0.43 mg of selenium per animal per day in diet; goats from the control group were given 0.15 mg of selenium per animal per day. At the beginning of the experiment, goats of all groups showed an average selenium concentration of 96 &mu;g/l in whole blood. On the parturition day, samples of first colostrum from goats and heparinized blood from goats and kids were taken. In the control group (C), average blood selenium concentrations of 111.4 ± 33.5 &mu;g/l were observed on the parturition day. In both experimental groups, selenium concentrations were significantly higher (<I>P</I> < 0.05). Average selenium concentration in the sodium selenite group (E1) was 177.2 ± 34.8 &mu;g/l and in the group supplemented with selenium lactate-protein complex (E2) 159.0 ± 28.5 &mu;g/l. Average glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activity in blood of control goats (C) was 581.9 ± 99.2 &mu;kat/l, in group E1 1 154.6 ± 156.2 &mu;kat/l and in group E2 1 011.6 ± 153.6 &mu;kat/l. GSH-Px activity in experimental groups was significantly higher (<I>P</I> < 0.05) as compared with the control group. Average selenium concentrations in colostrum was in the control group 40.1 ± 12.8 &mu;g/l, in E1 99.0 ± 29.9 &mu;g/l and in group E2 79.0 ± 17.7 &mu;g/l. Colostral selenium concentrations in experimental groups were significantly higher (<I>P</I> < 0.05) as compared with the control group. No significant difference in the monitored parameters was found between experimental groups. In kids of control mothers (kC), average selenium concentrations in blood on the parturition day were 62.4 ± 22.9 &mu;g/l; kids of mothers supplemented with sodium selenite (kE1) showed average selenium levels of 100.0 ± 31.2 &mu;g/l, and the average selenium concentration in kids of mothers receiving lactate-protein complex was 83.4 ± 20.1 &mu;g/l (kE2). Average GSH-Px activity in control kids (kC) was 402.1 ± 153.9 &mu;kat/l. Kids from kE1 showed average activity of GSH-Px 806.1 ± 254.9 &mu;kat/l and kids from group kE2 529.9 ± 119.8 &mu;kat/l. Statistically significant difference (<I>P</I> < 0.05) was found only between kC and kE1 which showed significantly higher selenium concentration and GSH-Px activity. The results of this study confirm that both forms of selenium administered in experimental groups (i.e., sodium selenite and selenium lactate-protein complex) had similar biological effect in goats. However, results obtained in kids indicate a better effect of supplementation with sodium selenite.


1994 ◽  
Vol 45 (4) ◽  
pp. 863 ◽  
Author(s):  
BR Whelan ◽  
DW Peter ◽  
NJ Barrow

Two forms of prilled selenium fertilizer from Mintech N.Z., Na2 SeO4 (Selcote�) and BaSe04 incorporating a slow-release technology, were applied to pasture once at 10 and 20 g Se ha-1 in 1987 at Bakers Hill, Western Australia. The pasture was grazed at 10 sheep ha-1 for 3 years. In the first year, half the sheep were also treated with a selenium intra-ruminal pellet. The Selcote fertilizer produced a rapid rise in pasture selenium concentration, resulting in a similar response in the concentrations of selenium in the whole blood and plasma which reached their maximum values within 7 weeks of commencing grazing. The selenium concentration then declined until, after 15 months, there was insufficient selenium in the pastures to increase the selenium status of sheep. In contrast, the slow-release formulation provided adequate selenium in each of the 3 years with sheep reaching their maximum plasma selenium of 80 8g Se L-1 in the second and third year. At relatively low values for whole blood selenium (< 75 pg Se L-1), supplying an additional selenium source had an additive effect on selenium concentration in the blood, but at higher concentrations (> 350 8g Se L-1) additional sources of selenium only marginally increased the whole blood concentration of selenium. Plasma was a more sensitive indicator of the selenium content of pasture in the short term than whole blood. The results indicate that either Selcote or the BaSe04 fertilizer provides an effective alternative to current strategies for supplying Se to grazing animals.


1970 ◽  
Vol 10 (47) ◽  
pp. 672 ◽  
Author(s):  
KO Godwin ◽  
RE Kuchel ◽  
RA Buckley

Trials conducted in South Australia, in an area where pasture improvement by means of the introduction of subterranean clovers has been practised for 10-15 years, have shown a significant improvement in fertility, in ewes treated with selenium. Analysis of all pastures grazed, and of whole blood of stock grazing them, indicated that the selenium status of the feed and of the animals was low. Phyto-oestrogen assays showed the presence of the isoflavones formononetin, genistein, and biochanin A, in the subterranean clover, which was mainly the cultivar Yarloop (Trifolium subterraneum L. var. Yarloop). Administration of selenium four to eight weeks before mating, given either as an oral dose of sodium selenite, or supplied in the form of an intraruminal selenium pellet containing elemental selenium and iron, led to an improvement in fertility; in some cases from 49 to 76 per cent. Also, lamb mortality was reduced by selenium administration to the ewes. There were differences due to selenium administration (P<0.001). Ewe fertility differed between pastures designated 'oestrogenic' and 'non-oestrogenic' (P<0.05). But no interaction between selenium and the presence of phyto-oestrogens could be shown by these experiments. The results are discussed in relation to the problem of infertility associated with the grazing of improved pastures


1989 ◽  
Vol 29 (4) ◽  
pp. 517 ◽  
Author(s):  
BR Whelan

. Subterranean clover (Trifolium subterraneum) based pastures were fertilised with sodium selenite at 9 rates from 0 to 800 g Se/ha on 2 sites in 1983. In order to measure the residual value in 1984 and 1985, further applications of sodium selenite were superimposed on the original 9 treatments. Green pasture was sampled annually, dry pasture was sampled once, only in 1984 and the concentration of selenium in the pasture was measured. The sampled pasture was sorted into 2 components: subterranean clover, and non-subterranean clover. Except for the third site that had a quadratic response for the non-subterranean clover component of the pasture, the concentration of selenium in plants increased linearly with application rate. The selenium concentration in subterranean clover was lower than that in the other species in the pasture. Differences between years were large: in 1985, the concentration in plant material was twice that in 1983 and 1984. The dry summer feed had higher concentrations of selenium than the green pasture. The residual value of selenite was 25% in the first year and 15% in the second year. Adequate dietary levels of selenium for sheep would require an annual application of about 200 g sodium selenite/ha to these soils.


Author(s):  
Otavio Henrique Thiemann ◽  
Marco Tulio Alves da Silva ◽  
Gisele Bulhoes Portapilla ◽  
Alan Raphael de Farias Klein Moraes

Selenium is an essential trace element which, at adequate levels, presents different beneficial biological effects, such as cancer regression, tissue development and protection against oxidative damage. The positive effects of this element are related to the expression of selenoproteins and their ability to modulate the immune system and the oxidative stress response. In Chagas disease and sleeping sickness, selenium supplementation has shown blood parasitism reduction and the alleviation of specific aspects of the diseases, such as diminishing anemia in sleeping sickness or minimization of myocardial and right ventricular chamber damage in Chagasdisease. Although the influence of selenium in trypanosomiasis has been investigated, the direct effects of sodium selenite supplementation on trypanosome cells are poorly understood. Treatment of Trypanosoma cruzi cultures with low selenium doses demonstrated different results, according to the parasite evolutive form analyzed. Epimastigote cultures supplemented with 100 nM of sodium selenite presented cell growth increment, which varies from 10 to 40% according to the parasite strain assayed. Selenium concentration around 600nM leads to a 30% increase in the amastigote form number, whereas, at the same dose, the mammal host cell presented no cellular growth alteration. For the bloodstream form, the results agree with theliterature, and all sodium selenite concentrations tested, demonstrated a reduction in parasite viability. The data suggest that selenium supplementation, under specific conditions, could increase T. cruzi viability, demonstrating that a strategy for using selenium as an adjuvant in Chagas disease treatment requires additional experimentation. KEY WORDS: Selenium; trypanosomiasis; Chagas disease; Trypanosoma cruzi.


2016 ◽  
Vol 85 (2) ◽  
pp. 185-194 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zita Faixová ◽  
Elena Piešová ◽  
Zuzana Maková ◽  
Klaudia Čobanová ◽  
Štefan Faix

The experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of feeding a diet supplemented with different forms of selenium on the rumen fluid, blood and serum enzyme activity and osmotic fragility of red blood cells in sheep. The experiment was carried out on 18 sheep of the Valashka breed at the age of 18 months, divided into 3 groups. The first group was given basal diet (BD) with a Se content of 0.17 mg/kg of dry matter (DM). The second group received BD supplemented with 0.4 mg Se/kg of (DM) in the form of sodium selenite. The third group received BD supplemented with 0.4 mg Se/kg of (DM) in the form of Se-yeast extract. Duration of the trial was 12 weeks. Selenium concentration in blood and total rumen fluid were elevated in both supplemented groups with the highest values in Se-yeast-treated sheep. Blood glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activity was significantly increased, regardless of the source of selenium. Osmotic resistance of red blood cells was not affected by selenium supplementation. The results indicate that feeding a diet supplemented with selenium from Se-yeast or selenite improved selenium status in blood and total rumen fluid. Selenium from sodium selenite was as effective as selenium from Se-yeast in the availability of selenium for the blood GPx activity. The effect of selenium supplementation on the ruminal enzyme activity depends on the selenium form; GGT and GDH were significantly higher in the Se-yeast supplement group, AST and ALP were significantly higher in the selenite supplement group.


PEDIATRICS ◽  
1980 ◽  
Vol 65 (5) ◽  
pp. 1010-1012
Author(s):  
John D. Lloyd-Still ◽  
Howard E. Ganther

Whole blood selenium and glutathione peroxidase levels were measured in 20 infants and children (aged 6 months to 15 years) with cystic fibrosis. The whole blood selenium concentration in cystic fibrosis was 0.122 ± 0.025 µg/gm. Although the levels of selenium in cystic fibrosis children were below the levels found in a study of healthy children (0.223 ± 0.007 µg/gm), they are comparable to those found in children with phenylketonuria treated dietetically and exceed the blood selenium level of healthy children in New Zealand. Levels of the selenoenzyme glutathione peroxidase in children with cystic fibrosis (0.042 ± 0.007 units/mg Hb) were in the normal range (0.035 ± 0.003 units/mg of Hb). These results do not support the hypothesis that deficiency of selenium is responsible for cystic fibrosis.


Author(s):  
Yajie Zou, Fang Du, Haijun Zhang, Qingxiu Hu

Nowadays the study of selenium-rich mushrooms is very popular. In the present study, selenium speciation in fruiting body of Pleurotus tuoliensis was investigated in cultivation substrates with different concentrations of sodium selenite, as well as mycelia growth and mushroom development. The results showed that the P. tuoliensis mycelia appeared good tolerance to selenium at all test concentrations. A selenium concentration of 10 mg/kg promoted fruiting of P. tuoliensis; the fruiting bodies were of good quality and had a low malformation rate. HPLC–ICP-MS determined that organic seleniums enriched in stipes and caps existed mainly in the form of selenoCystine and selenoMethionine at selenium concentrations of 10-100 mg/kg. These findings suggest that P. tuoliensis could be developed as a selenium-rich mushroom product for use as a novel dietary source of bioavailable supplemental selenium.


2001 ◽  
Vol 41 (2) ◽  
pp. 145 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. W. P. Cloete ◽  
S. J. Schoeman ◽  
J. Coetzee ◽  
J. de V. Morris

(Co)variance estimates for weaning weight, yearling liveweight, clean fleece weight and fibre diameter at yearling age were obtained for Merino, Dohne Merino and South African Meat Merino flocks maintained on the same property. Direct additive genetic variances for weaning weight [expressed as a ratio of the total phenotypic variance (h2, direct heritability)] were estimated at 0.15 for Merinos, 0.21 for Dohne Merinos and 0.32 for South African Meat Merinos. Corresponding maternal variance ratios (m2, including direct maternal variance and permanent environmental maternal variance) were estimated at 0.15, 0.30 and 0.24, respectively. The correlation between direct and maternal variance ratios was high and negative in Dohne Merinos and South African Meat Merinos (–0.72 and –0.53, respectively). Direct heritability estimates for yearling liveweight were 0.30 for Merinos, 0.33 for Dohne Merinos and 0.45 for South African Meat Merinos. Corresponding maternal variance ratios were only significant in the latter 2 breeds, amounting to 0.13 in Dohne Merinos and 0.12 in South African Meat Merinos. For yearling clean fleece weight, h2 and m2 were estimated at 0.28 and 0.12, respectively, for both Merinos and Dohne Merinos. In the case of South African Meat Merinos, only the h2 estimate was significant, at 0.68. Maternal variance ratios for yearling fibre diameter were not significant in any of the breeds, while h2 ranged from 0.58 in Merinos to 0.75 in South African Meat Merinos. Selection progress for yearling traits seems likely in all breeds, depending on the breeding objectives being strived for.


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