Original scientific paper
INFLUENCE OF SELENIUM ON LAMBS PRODUCTIVE TRAITS AND CONCENTRATION OF THYROID HORMONES
Zvonko Antunović
; Poljoprivredni fakultet Sveučilišta u Osijeku, Hrvatska
Branko Kopić
; Poljoprivredni fakultet Sveučilišta u Osijeku, Hrvatska
Marcela Šperanda
; Poljoprivredni fakultet Sveučilišta u Osijeku, Hrvatska
Zdenko Steiner
; Poljoprivredni fakultet Sveučilišta u Osijeku, Hrvatska
Josip Novoselec
; Poljoprivredni fakultet Sveučilišta u Osijeku, Hrvatska
Abstract
Selenium is an essential element for animals and its dietary intake is not sufficient. Therefore some selenium from different sources is supplied in animals' diet (sodium selenite is common in use). The investigation was conducted on 30 lambs, aged 60 to 110 days, divided into two groups. Lambs were fed meadow hay (ad libitum) and a feed mixture. Preparation of the sodium selenite was added to the feed mixture in the experimental group of lambs in the concentration of 0.03%. The selenium concentration in the lambs' blood was determined by graphite method and the concentration of thyroid hormones (T3 and T4) by radioimmunoassay. Body mass and daily gain in the control and experimental group of lambs were not statistically different (36.17:36.03 kg and 343.6:347.2 g). There were no differences between the control and experimental group of lambs in anamorphosis index (150.76:153.65), body proportion index (66.29:68.36) and body condition score (3.57:3.63). Significantly higher (P<0.01) selenium concentration and activity of glutathion peroxidase were determined in the experimental group (79.10 μg/L and 27689 U/L) in relation to the control group (21.19 μg/L and 12613 U/L). Also, higher concentration of T3 and T3/T4 ratio, as well as lower concentration of T4 were determined in the experimental group in relation to the control group (P>0.05). Selenium concentration, GSH-Px activity as well as T3 and T4 level in the blood could be used as a reliable criteria for animals' selenium supply evaluation.
Keywords
lambs; selenium; productive traits; blood; thyroid hormones
Hrčak ID:
28929
URI
Publication date:
9.10.2008.
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