Selenium Yeast Supplementation for Broilers at Different Ages

The objective of this study was to investigate the influence on growth performance and physicochemical parameters from replacing Sodium Selenite (SS) with Se Yeast (SY), in broilers of different ages before slaughter. Overall, 1,440 male broiler chickens (1-d-old), Ross 308, were randomly distributed into 6 treatment groups: T1 (1-42 d SS); T2 (1-42 d SY); T3 (1-14 d SS/15-42 d SY); T4 (1-21 d SS/22-42 d SY); T5 (1-28 d SS/29-42 d SY); and T6 (1-35 d SS/36-42 d SY) with 8 replicates each. The performance was evaluated at 14, 21, 28, 35, and 42 d. At 42 d, 2 animals per replicate were slaughtered to remove the breast meat and livers. The Se deposition in tissues and the physicochemical characteristics of the broiler meat were measured. The results were analyzed with ANOVA, and an SNK test was applied, when necessary. There were no significant differences in the performance, liver Se deposition, drip loss, pH, shear force, and objective color. Broilers that received SY in the last week before slaughter had meat with lower levels of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances, and the cooking loss was similar to that of broilers fed SY for 42 d. The higher Se deposition in broiler breast was observed for SY throughout 1-42 d, followed by 29-42 and 36-42 d. The treatments using SY for any ages provided higher Se deposition compared to SS throughout 1-42 d. These results showed that is not necessary to supplement SY in broiler chickens for 42 d.