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Dietary organic selenium (Se) has been reported to have superior effects on growth performance, antioxidative status, immune response, and Se homeostasis when compared to inorganic Se. In that line of study, the aim of the present project was to expand the knowledge about the effects of different Se sources and levels on weight gain, and plasma concentrations of total Se and seleno-biomolecules in piglets throughout the suckling period. For that purpose, piglets from 31 sows were selected randomly and monitored from birth to 38 days of age. The sows’ diets were enriched with l-selenomethionine (SeMet, 0.26 and 0.43 mg Se/kg feed) or sodium selenite (NaSe, 0.40 and 0.60 mg Se/kg feed) from 1 month prior to farrowing until the end of suckling period. NaSe-0.40 served as control diet.
As a result, at day 24, piglets in SeMet groups showed a higher BW when compared with piglets from sows fed NaSe-0.40. Furthermore, piglets from sows fed NaSe-0.60 had significantly higher BW than offspring from sows fed NaSe-0.40. The offspring in the SeMet groups showed higher total Se-concentrations in plasma than those from sows fed selenite. Moreover, SeMet-fed piglets showed higher plasma levels of glutathione peroxidase 3 (GPx3) and selenoprotein P (SelP), as well as selenoalbumin (SeAlb). Concerning enzyme activity, neonatal and 5d-old piglets in group SeMet-0.26 showed higher gamma-glutamyl transferase activity than piglets in group NaSe-0.40. On the other hand, group NaSe-0.60 from 5d-old and above, showed increased activities of aspartate transaminase and lactate dehydrogenase in comparison with the other groups.
In conclusion, growth performance was positively influenced by both dietary Se source and level. Higher plasma levels of GPx3 observed in SeMet piglets probably improved the protection against oxidative stress. These might prime the piglets for demanding situations as indicated by higher weight gain in offspring from sows fed with SeMet-supplemented diets. The results on the enzyme activities indicate that piglets fed NaSe-0.60 had to cope with increased levels of oxidative stress compared with those originating from sows fed SeMet or lower dietary levels of selenite. Therefore, it can be assumed that combining inorganic and organic Se sources in complete feed for breeding sows might be beneficial for reproduction and the offspring’s performance.
Falk M, Bernhoft A, Reinoso-Maset E, Salbu B, Lebed P, Framstad T, Fuhrmann H, Oropeza-Moe M. Beneficial antioxidant status of piglets from sows fed selenomethionine compared with piglets from sows fed sodium selenite. Journal of Trace Elements in Medicine and Biology. 2020; 58(126439). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jtemb.2019.126439