EFFECTS OF SELENIUM SUPPLEMENTATION OF NATURALLY HIGH SELENIUM SWINE RATIONS ON TISSUE LEVELS OF THE ELEMENT

Abstract

An experiment was conducted, using high selenium Record of Performance (ROP) test rations (0.46 and 0.78 ppm selenium), to study the effects of dietary supplementation with 0.1 ppm selenium (sodium selenate) on residues of the element in porcine tissues. Treatments included no selenium supplementation, selenium supplementation of the starter ration from 16 kg to 23 kg (average body weight), addition of selenium to both the starter and grower-finisher rations up to 57 kg, and dietary selenium supplementation for the entire starter-grower-finisher period. None of the treatments had any effects on the selenium content of kidney, liver, heart, blood, or loin, shoulder, and ham muscles, as compared with unsupplemented controls. The significance of the results is discussed in relation to differences in retention of natural dietary selenium and supplemental inorganic forms of selenium and likely effect of selenium supplementation of swine rations on selenium levels in the human diet.