Selenium content in the blood serum and urine of ewes receiving selenium-enriched unicellular alga Chlorella

The effect of selenium supplementation in inorganic and organic form was investigated in three five-member groups of ewes and their lambs in the course of 7 months. The basal feed ration contained 55 mu g Se, ewes of experimental group E1 received a supplement of 180 mu g Se in sodium selenite, and ewes of experimental group E2 were applied a supplement of 180 mu g selenium bound in the biomass of the alga Chlorella. Control group C did not receive any selenium. The ewes were in the stage of non pregnant, pregnancy and lactation during the experiment. Average contents of Se in the blood serum of ewes were as follows: E1 114.2 +/- 23.6; E2 103.1 +/- 20.3; C 68.6 +/- 16.8 mu g/l ( P < 0.001). A decrease in serum Se was recorded in all groups in the last third of pregnancy and in the first week post partum. Average contents of urinary selenium contents were also higher in experimental groups: E1 25.4 +/- 13.5; E2 18.7 +/- 9.6; C 13.3 +/- 4.5 mu g/l ( P < 0.001). The positive effect of supplementation of Se to ewes was reflected in its higher average concentration in the blood serum of born lambs: E1 48.5 +/- 7.3; E2 53.5 +/- 3.4; C 30.3 +/- 7.4 mu g/l ( P < 0.05). The effect of selenium bound in Chlorella biomass was higher and persisted until 30 days of lamb age: E1 52.9 +/- 3.4; E2 59.0 +/- 7.0; C 35.5 +/- 5.8 mu g/l ( P < 0.01). The average number of lambs born per ewe was 1.0 in group C and E1, and 1.8 in group E2.