Effects of feeding yeast(Saccharomyces cerevisiae), organic selenium and chromium mixed on growth performance and carcass traits of hair lambs

Yeasts and organic minerals are used in diets to improve health, productive performance and some carcass characteristics of ruminants and non-ruminants. Thirty-two lambs（Pelibuey×Katahdin; BW=（30.55±1.67） kg; n=8） were used in a 56-d feeding experiment to study the effects of different levels of live yeast（Saccharomyces cerevisiae; yeast）, selenium（Se） and chromium（Cr） mixed（Se-Cr）, and a mixture of yeast-Se-Cr on growth performance and carcass traits. Animals were stratified by body weight（BW） and randomly assigned to one of four treatments： 1） control group（0.0 g kg–1 yeast）; 2） yeast（1.50 g kg–1 dry matter intake（DMI） d–1）; 3） Se-Cr premix（1.5 mg kg–1 DMI d–1 for each mineral）; and 4） yeast-Se-Cr mixture. There were no treatment effects on final BW; whereas lambs fed Se-Cr or yeast-Se-Cr had higher（P〈0.05） DMI than animals supplemented with only yeast. Average daily gain（ADG）, gain：feed ratio, chop area, dorsal fat and carcass yield were similar（P〉0.05） among treatment groups. In conclusion, supplementation with yeast, Se-Cr mixed or yeast-Se-Cr did not improve ADG, final BW, back fat content and carcass yield of growing of Pelibuey×Katahdin lambs. Supplementation with Se-Cr and yeast-Se-Cr increased DMI, and approximately 250 g ADG animal–1 d–1 was produced with no negative effects on growth and health of the animals.

Growth, Survival and Physiological Condition of Cultured Marron, Cherax tenuimanus （Smith, 1912） Fed Different Levels of Organic Selenium

A 90-day feeding experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of three levels of dietary supplementation of organic selenium （OS） on physiological and immunological responses of marron （Cherax tenuimanus）. Three levels viz. 0.1, 0.2 and 0.3 g kg^-1 of basal diet of Sel-Plex as a source of OS. were prepared and tested against the basal diet, which was used as a control. Each diet was fed to four replicated groups of marron, （initial mean weight of 39.43 ± 0.55 g）, at a rate of 3% body weight every second day. At the end of the feeding experiment, dietary inclusion of all Sel-Plex levels significantly improved specific growth rate （SGR） and survival of marron. Inclusion of Sel-Plex above 0.1 g kg^-1 resulted in significantly higher hepatopancreatic moisture level （HM） and wet hepatosomatic index （Hiw）, of marron than matron fed without Sel-Plex. Total Se level in the hepatopancreas was the highest （5.41 ± 0.28 μg g^-1） in the matron fed 0.2 g kg^-1 of Sel-Plex, whereas muscle accumulated significantly higher level of Se when man-on were fed 0.3 g kgl of dietary Sel-Plex. It is therefore suggested that the beneficial dietary supplementation levels of Sel-Plex in marron should range from 0.2 to 0.3 g kg^-1.

The effects of dietary supplementation with mushroom or selenium enriched mushroom powders on the growth performance and intestinal health of post-weaned pigs

Background There is an urgent need to identify natural bioactive compounds that can enhance gastrointestinal health and promote pig growth performance in the absence of pharmacological levels of zinc oxide(ZnO).The objectives of this study were to:1)compare the effects of mushroom powder supplemented with inorganic selenium(inSeMP)to mushroom powder enriched with organic selenium(orgSeMP)to pharmacological levels of ZnO on growth performance and faecal scores(FS)for the first 21 d post-weaning(Period 1);and 2)compare the molecular and microbial effects of inSeMP and orgSeMP in these pigs on d 39 post-weaning(Period 2).Methods In Period 1,pigs(3 pigs/pen;8 pens/treatment)were assigned to:(1)basal diet(control);(2)basal diet+zinc oxide(ZnO)(3100 mg/kg d 1–14,1550 mg/kg d 15–21);(3)basal diet+mushroom powder supplemented with inorganic selenium(inSeMP)containing selenium(selenite)content of 0.3 mg/kg feed;(4)basal diet+mushroom powder enriched with organic selenium(orgSeMP)containing selenium(selenocysteine)content of 0.3 mg/kg feed.Mushroom powders were included at 6.5 g/kg of feed.Results In Period 1,there was no effect of diets on average daily gain(ADG)and gain:feed(G:F)ratio(P>0.05).The orgSeMP supplemented pigs had a lower average daily feed intake(ADFI)compared to all other groups(P<0.05).The ZnO supplemented pigs had reduced FS compared to the basal and mushroom group,while the orgSeMP supplemented pigs had lower FS compared to the basal group during the 21 d experimental period(P<0.05).In Period 2,there was no effect of diets on ADFI,ADG and G:F ratio(P>0.05).The orgSeMP supplementation increased the caecal abundance of bacterial members of the Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes phylum,including Lactobacillus,Agathobacter,Roseburia,and Prevotella and decreased the abundance of Sporobacter compared to the basal group,while inSeMP increased the caecal abundance of Prevotella and decreased the caecal abundance of Sporobacter compared to the basal group(P<0.05).Dietary supplementation with inSeMP increased expression of TLR4 and anti-inflammatory cytokine gene IL10 and decreased nutrient transporter gene FABP2 compared to the orgSeMP group(P<0.05).Conclusion OrgSeMP is a novel and sustainable way to incorporate selenium andβ-glucans into the diet of weaned pigs whilst improving FS and modulating the caecal microbiota.

Combined yeast culture and organic selenium supplementation during late gestation and lactation improve preweaning piglet performance by enhancing the antioxidant capacity and milk content in nutrient-restricted sows

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of dietary supplementation with yeast culture(YC)and organic selenium(Se)during late gestation and lactation on reproductive performance,milk quality,piglet preweaning performance,antioxidant capacity,and secretion of immunoglobulin in multiparous sows.A total of 160 healthy cross-bred sows(Landrace×Yorkshire,mean parity 4.1±0.3)were randomly assigned to 4 groups as follows:1)high nutrient(HN),3,420 kcal/kg digestible energy(DE)and 18.0%crude protein(CP);2)low nutrient(LN),3,240 kcal/kg DE and 16.0%CP;3)LN+YC,LN diet+10 g/kg YC;4)LN+YC+Se,LN diet+10 g/kg YC+organic Se(1 mg/kg Se).Feeding trials of sows started from d 85 of pregnancy to d 35 of lactation.Compared with sows in the LN group,sows fed the LN+YC+Se diet had greater litter weaning weight,average litter gain,and milk fat content(14-d and25-d milk)(P<0.05).The content of malonaldehyde(MDA)(colostrum and 14-d milk)was lesser,and the activity of glutathione peroxidase(GSH-Px)(colostrum and 25-d milk)was greater when sows were fed the LN+YC+Se diet,compared with sows fed the LN diet(P<0.05).Supplementation of YC and organic Se in the nutrient-restricted diet improved sows’reproductive performance and pig weaning body weight by enhancing the antioxidant capacity and fat content in milk.

Antitumor mechanism of Se-containing polysaccharide,a novel organic selenium compound

Recent studies on the inhibition of tumor growth by Se-containing polysaccharide were reviewed.Meanwhile,the possible molecular mechanisms of the inhibition of tumor cell growth through antioxidation,induction of tumor cell apoptosis,blockade of cell cycle,and enhancement of immunity by Se-containing polysaccharide were proposed.In the end,the potential application of Se-containing polysaccharide in the prevention and treatment of tumor was elucidated.