High-per- forming sows require good antioxidant levels.
sodium selenite or the same source of L-selenomethionine as in the previous trial, at two concentrations. Results showed that the average daily feed intake (ADFI) was higher in diets enriched with L-selenomethionine. Sele- nium levels in colostrum and milk were higher for sows sup- plemented with L-selenomethionine and increased with higher dosages (see Figure 2). Levels of selenoproteins, such as selenoprotein (SelP), selenomethionine (SeMet) and sele- noalbumin (SeAlb), increased in the colostrum of sows that received L-selenomethionine, and levels increased with higher dosages. Blood parameters, such as glutamate dehydrogenase (GLDH) and gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT), which are markers for oxidative stress, showed that sows supplemented with L-selenomethionine had better antioxidant status than sows supplemented with sodium selenite. Just changing the sele- nium source from inorganic sodium selenite to L-selenome- thionine can improve a sow’s performance and antioxidant status.
Selenium in maternal diets and piglets After the study in sows, the team of researchers randomly selected piglets of these sows to examine whether the two selenium sources fed to sows can affect weight gain, blood parameters and total selenium levels in their offspring. Sows and piglets were divided over four treatment groups, supplemented with sodium selenite and again the same source of L-selenomethionine as in the previous trials, at two concentrations. From birth onwards, piglets from sows that received L-sele- nomethionine showed higher selenium concentrations in plasma than piglets from sows that received sodium selenite. Selenium concentrations in plasma were dose-dependent. Blood parameters, such as aspartate transaminase (AST) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), that indicate oxidative stress, showed lower oxidative stress in piglets from sows supplemented with higher levels of L-selenomethionine. That shows that L-selenomethionine is more efficient than
sodium selenite in transferring selenium to the piglets via the colostrum and milk. Higher maternal selenium transfer by di- etary L-selenomethionine provides the piglets with better an- tioxidant status. It was also shown that L-selenomethionine increases body weight of piglets. At birth, body weight for piglets in all groups is similar. After several days, body weight of piglets from sows that received low levels of sodium selenite in their diet was lower than for piglets from other groups.
Conclusions Overall, these three studies have shown that L-selenomethio- nine (Excential Selenium 4000) supplementation to the diet of finishing pigs and sows reduces oxidative stress and increases levels of selenium in plasma, muscle, colostrum and milk com- pared to supplementation with sodium selenite. Maternal supplementation with L-selenomethionine has been shown to improve the selenium and antioxidant status of their offspring and supports growth of piglets. That allows for more robust piglets with a higher body weight at weaning.
References available on request. The author can be reached at
soest@orffa.com.
Figure 2 – Selenium levels (μg/L) in colostrum (farrowing) and milk (weaning) for sodium selenite and L-selenomethionine* at different dosages.
Colostrum/milk selenium levels
0.35 0.30 0.25 0.20 0.15 0.10 0.05 0.00
c bc ab a c** a a Colostrum (farrowing)
* Excential Selenium 4000, Orffa. Source: Adapted from Falk et al. (2019).
b** Milk (weaning)
P<0.05 **P<0.001
Sodium selenite - 0.40 mg Se/kg Sodium selenite - 0.60 mg Se/kg L-selenomethionine* - 0.26 mg Se/kg L-selenomethionine* - 0.43 mg Se/kg
▶ PIG PROGRESS | Volume 38, No. 3, 2022
43
Selenium levels (μg/L)
PHOTO: ORFFA
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