The effect of nano-selenium, seleno-methionine and sodium selenite on milk production, selenium and IgG levels of Khalkhali goats and their kids

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

Abstract

Introduction: Selenium (Se), as an antioxidant element, is a neutralizing mineral for oxidative stress and urging apoptosis in stressed biological systems. Selenium is a necessary trace element for ruminants that participates in varied biological processes like antioxidant defense, production of thyroid hormone, and response of immune system. In recent years, researches have focused on the best supplementary sources of selenium to maximize biological performance. The studies about reproductive performance, such as that of Gabryszuk and Klewiec (2002), showed that injecting ewes with Se four weeks before breeding and again during the last four weeks of gestation caused a 32% increase in lambing percentage compared with Se-deficient ewes. Furthermore, adequate Se status of the newborn lambs not only ensures prevention of nutritional myopathy, but also decreases losses in lamb productivity. Lambs from Se-supplemented ewes showed faster progression to stand and nurse compared with lambs from unsupplemented ewes and leading to an overall decrease in lamb mortality (Muñoz et al. 2009). It has been observed that selenium mineral supplements, such as sodium selenite and sodium selenate, have the same bioavailability. However, organic selenium supplements such as yeast selenium more effectively increase the concentration of selenium in blood and milk and may have a better bioavailability. However, the recently developed red elemental selenium has promising uses in the environmental protection from the pollution of the excessive selenium (Zhang et al. 2007). Zhang et al. (2007) synthesized nano red elemental selenium (nano-Se) with the size of 5 – 100 nm and observed that nano-Se had a similar bioavailability in rat and much less acute toxicity in mice compared with selenite. Recently, Wang et al. (2007) showed that nano-Se (20 – 60 nm) possesses equal efficacy in increasing the activities of GSH-Px in plasma and liver from male Kunming mice compared with selenomethionine. The periparturient period is the foremost necessary stage in farm animals about health standing and production. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of different sources of selenium on blood and serum selenium concentration of Khalkhali goats during late pregnancy, as well as the effect of these sources on the concentration of selenium in their kids up to four weeks and serum and colostrum immunoglobulin concentration (IgG) of mothers and kids (immediately after birth).
Material and methods: The experiment was conducted using 40 Khalkhali goats in a completely randomized design devided into four groups with 10 goats per each group. The goats were randomly allocated to four treatments to receive supplementations of 0 (control), 0.6 mg Se head−1 day−1 of seleno-methionine (SM), 0.6 mg Se head−1 day−1 of nano-selenium (SN), and 0.6 mg Se head−1 day−1 of sodium selenite (SS) from four weeks before the expected day of delivery. Their blood samples were taken at that time and on the kidding day. In addition, colostrums were collected in pre-cleaned polyethylene bottles from the goats as immediately as possible after kidding. Instantly after delivery, newborn kids were taken apart from their dams. The control group did not receive any supplement and received only the basal ration containing 0.1 mg Se kg-1 DM. Blood samples were collected from goats three weeks before the expected kidding. Blood samples of kids were taken from the jugular vein on the day of birth and 7 days after birth. Blood samples were centrifuged at 3000 rpm for 15 minutes to prepare the serum. The ELISA method was used to determine the concentration of IgG and selenium concentration was measured using the ICP-OES device. The weight of kids at the birth and up to four weeks, colostrum production in the first three days and milk production of goats for four weeks were recorded and analyzed.
Results and discussion: There were no significant differences in birth weight, weight of kids up to four weeks, colostrum production in the first three days, and milk production until the fourth week in goats. There was a significant difference between the groups in serum IgG concentration, colostrum IgG, and blood IgG concentration of kids (p < 0.05). No significant differences were observed between mineral selenium, nano-selenium, and control group. However, seleno-methionine had a significantly better performance than nano-selenium and sodium selenite. Serum and blood selenium concentrations were similar before kiding, but the concentration of selenium in serum and blood of supplemented goats was significantly higher than the control ones (P> 0.05). The results of this experiment showed that serum and blood selenium concentrations in nano-selenium recieved goats were significantly higher compared with other groups (p < 0.05). Serum and blood selenium concentrations of kids at birth and colostral selenium concentration in the experimental groups were significantly higher than the control group (P <0.05), except for the goats supplemented with selenium nanoparticles, which significantly decreased compared to the control goats. The serum selenium and blood levels of selenomethionine recieved group showed the highest selenium levels in comparison with other groups. Selenium blood levels increased significantly in the first week of life of the kids only in the organic supplementation treatment (P <0.05).
Conclusion: Organic selenium supplementation in late pregnancy was effective in transferring blood immunity from the goats to the kids and led to changes in serum and colostrum IgG levels of goats. The supplementation of different Se forms (sodium selenite, selenomethionine and elemental nano-Se) into pregnant goats’ diet increased Se status in the whole blood and serum compared with controls. Among Se sources, nano-selenium exhibited an excellent increasing Se status in pregnant goats. Current results showed differences in the transplacental Se transfer capacities of sodium selenite, selenium nanoparticles, and selenomethionine. When comparing these three Se sources, the results of the study clearly demonstrated that kids from goats receiving selenomethionine had higher whole-blood and serum-Se concentrations compared with kids from goats receiving sodium selenite and selenium nanoparticles. There was a failure of nano-selenium to increase newborn Se concentrations as compared with control. Seleno-methionine had higher transplacental transfer of Se and also resulted in higher Se concentrations in colostrum. Goats supplemented with seleno-methionine had greater colostral Se concentrations than goats supplemented with sodium selenite and selenium nanoparticles.

Abd El-Ghany H, López-Arellano AE, Revilla-Vázquez R, RamírezBribiesca A and Tórtora-Pérez EJ, 2008. Effect of pre- and postpartum selenium supplementation in sheep. Journal of Animal and Veterinary Advances 7: 61–67.
Abd El-Ghany H, López-Arellano AE, Revilla-Vázquez R, RamírezBribiesca A and Tórtora-Pérez EJ, 2007. Interrelationship between fetal and maternal selenium concentrations in small ruminants. Small Ruminants Research 73:174–180.
Abdelrahman MM and Kincaid RL, 1995. Effect of selenium supplementation on maternal transfer of selenium in the bovine. Journal of Dairy Science 78: 625–630.
Anke M, Angelow L and Angelow L, 1987. Effect of selenium deficiency upon reproduction and milk production of goats. Pp. 440–447. In: Proceedings of the Macro- and Trace Element Seminar, University Leipxing-Jena, Germany.
Atroshi F, Sankari S and Linstrom VB, 1985. Glutathione peroxidase activity in dairy goat erythrocytes in relation to somatic cell counts and milk production. Archiv fur experimentelle Veterinarmedizin 39:520-527.
Awadeh FT, Kincaid RL and Johnson KA, 1998. Effect of level and source of dietary selenium on concentrations of thyroid hormones and immunoglobulin in beef cows and calves. Journal of Dairy Science 76: 1204–1215.
Boland TM, Keane N, Nowakowski P, Brophy PO and Crosby TF, 2005. High mineral and vitamin E intake by pregnant ewe lowers colostral immunoglobulin G absorption by the lamb. Journal of Dairy Science 83: 871–878.
Bourne N, Wathes DC, Lawrence KE, McGowan M and Laven RA, 2008. The effect of parenteral supplementation of vitamin E with selenium on the health and productivity of dairy cattle in the UK. Veterinary Journal 177:381-7.
Brzezinska Slebodzinska E, Miller JK and Quigley JD, 1994. Antioxidant status of dairy cows supplemented pre-partum with vitamin E and selenium. Journal of Dairy Science 77: 3087–3095.
Castellan DM, Mass JP, Gardner IA, Oltjen JW and Sween ML, 1999. Growth of suckling beef calves in response to parenteral administration of selenium and the effect of dietary protein provided to their dams. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, 214: 816–821.
Cohen RD, King BD, Guenther C and Janzen ED, 1991. Effects of prepartum parenteral supplementation of pregnant beef cows with selenium/vitamin E on cow and calf plasma selenium and productivity. Canadian Veterinary Journal 32: 113–115.
Cuesta PA, Mc Dowell LR, Kunkle WE, Wilkinson NS and Martin FG, 1995. Effect of high dose prepartum injection of selenium and vitamin E on milk and serum concentration in ewes. Small Ruminants Research 18: 99–103.
Davidov I, Radinovic M, Bobos S and Eredeljan M. 2011. Influence of selenium on mamary glands and milk somatic cells in dairy cows. Savremena poljoprivreda 60: 342-347.
Davis PA, McDowell LR, Wilkinson NS, Buergelt CD, Van Alstyne R, Weldon RN and Marshall TT, 2006. Effects of selenium levels in ewe diets on selenium in milk and the plasma and tissue selenium concentration of lamb. Small Ruminants Research 65:14–23.
Enjalbert F, Lebreton P, Salat O and Schelcher F, 1999. Effects of pre-or postpartum selenium supplementation on selenium status in beef cows and their calves. Journal of Animal Science 77: 223–229.
Gabryszuk M and Klewiec J, 2002. Effects of injecting 2 and 3-year-old ewes with selenium and selenium–vitamin E on reproduction and rearing of lambs. Small Ruminants Research 43: 127–132.
Gerloff BJ, 1992. Effect of selenium supplementation on dairy cattle performance. Journal of Animal Science 70: 3934–3940.
Givens DI, Allison R, Cottrill B and Blake JS, 2004. Enhancing the selenium content of bovine milk through alteration of the form and concentration of selenium in the diet of the dairy cow. Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture 84: 811–817.
Grasso P, Scholz RW, Erskine RJ and Ebrerhart RJ, 1990. Phagocytosis, bactericidal activity, and oxidative metabolism of mammary neutrophils from dairy cows fed selenium adequate and selenium-deficient diets. American Journal of Veterinary Research 51: 269-277.
Gunter SA, Beck PA and Phillips JM, 2003. Effects of supplementary selenium source on the performance and blood measurements in beef cows and their calves. Journal of Animal Science 81: 856–864.
Guyot H, Spring P, Andrieu S and Rollin F. 2007. Comparative responses to sodium selenite and organic selenium supplements in Belgian Blue cows and calves. Livestock Science 111: 259–263.
Harrison JH and Hancock DD, 1999. Role of selenium and vitamin E deficiency in postpartum reproductive diseases of the bovine. Pp. 85–99. In: The Alvin Lloyd Moxon Honorary Lectures on Selenium and Vitamin E. Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center. USA.
Harrison JH, Hancock DD and Conrad HR, 1984. Vitamin E and selenium for reproduction of dairy cow. Journal of Dairy Science 67: 123–132.
Heard JW, Stockdale CR, Walker GP, Leddin CM, Dunshea FR, McIntosh GH, Shields PM, McKenna A, Young GP and Doyle PT, 2007. Increasing selenium concentration in milk: effects of amount of selenium from yeast and cereal grain supplements in early and late lactation. Journal of Dairy Science 90: 4117–4127.
Juniper DT, Phipps RH, Jones AK and Bertin G, 2006. Selenium supplementation of lactating cows: effect on selenium concentration in blood, milk, urine, and feces. Journal of Dairy Science. 89 3544–3551.
Kachuee R, Moeini M and Souri M, 2014. Effects of organic and inorganic selenium supplementation during late pregnancy on colostrum and serum Se status, performance and passive immunity in Merghoz goats. Animal Production Science 54:1016-1022.
Kachuee R, Moeini MM and Souri M, 2013. The effect of dietary organic and inorganic selenium supplementation on serum Se, Cu, Fe and Zn status during the late pregnancy in Merghoz goats and their kids. Small Ruminant Research 110:20-27.
Kincaid RL, and Rock MJ, 1999. Selenium intakes during late gestation on immunoglobulins and thyroid hormones in sheep. Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology Journal 13:A249.
Kojouri GA, 2002. A study on relationship between concentrations of selenium, copper, manganese, zinc and iodine in soil, plant and animal in Bakhtiari, provience. Final Project Technical Research Council of Islamic Republic of Iran, Grant No. 4297.
Koller LD, Whitbeck GA and South PJ, 1984. Transplacental transfer and colostral concentration of Se in beef cattle. American Journal of Veterinary Research 45: 2507–2508.
Kumar M, Garg AK, Dass RS, Chaturvedi VK, Mudgal V and Varshney VP, 2009. Selenium supplementation influences growth performance, antioxidant status and immune response in lambs. Animal Feed Science and Technology 153: 77–87.
Lacetera N, Bernabuci U, Ronchi B and Nardone A, 1996. Effects of selenium and vitamin E administration during a late stage of pregnancy on colostrums and milk production in dairy cows, and on passive immunity and growth of their offspring. American Journal of Veterinary Research 57 :1776–1780.
Mahan DC, 2000. Effect of organic and inorganic selenium sources and levels on sow colostrums and milk selenium content. Journal of Animal Science 78: 100–105.
Moeini MM, Karami H, Mikaeili E and Mostafaei A, Abstract no: 996, 2008. Effect of selenium and vitamin E supplementation during late pregnancy on serum IgG concentration in heifers and serum IgG concentration and passive immunity in their calves. Pp. 230.In: In Proceeding of XXV WBC, Budapest, Hungry.
Mohri M, Seifi HA and Khodadi J, 2005. Effects of pre-weaning parenteral supplementation of Vitamin E and selenium on hematology, serum proteins and weight gain in dairy calves. Comp. Journal of Clinical Pathology 14: 149–154.
Munoz C, Carson AF, McCoy MA, Dawson LER, Connell NE and Gordon AW, 2009. Effect of plane of nutrition of 1- and 2-year- old ewes in early and mid pregnancy on ewe reproduction and offspring performance up to weaning. Animal 3:657-669.
Morgante M, Beghelli D, Pauselli M, Dallara P, Capuccella M and Ranucci S, 1999. Effect of administration of vitamin E and selenium during the dry period on mammary health and milk cell counts in dairy ewes. Journal of Dairy Science 82: 623–631.
Najafnejad B, Aliarabi H, Taghizadeh A, Alipour D, 2014. Comparison effects of different selenium sources in cottonseed rich diets on digestibility of the diet, performance and hematological parameters of lactating dairy cows. Journal of Ruminant Research 2: 79-98
National Research Council, 2001. Nutrient Requirements of Dairy Cattle, 6th rev. ed. National Academy of Sciences (NAS), Washington, D.C.
Oliver SP and Calvinho lF, 1995. Influence of inflammation on mammary gland metabolism and milk composition. Journal of Animal Science 73: 18–33.
Pavlata L, Prasek J, Podhorsky A, Pechova A and Haloun T, 2003. Selenium metabolism in cattle-maternal transfer of selenium to newborn calves at different concentrations in dams. Acta Veterinaria Brno 72: 639–646.
Phipps RH, Grandison AS, Jones AK, Juniper DT, Ramos-Morales E and Bertin G, 2008. Selenium supplementation of lactating dairy cows: effects on milk production and total selenium content and speciation in blood, milk and cheese. Animal 2: 1610–1618.
Rajala-Schultz PJ, Grohn YT, MC Culloch CE and Guard CL, 1999. Effects of clinical mastitis on milk yield in dairy cows. Journal of Dairy Science 82: 1–11.
Ramirez JE, Bribiesca JL, Tortora M, Huerta LM, Hernandez Lopez R and Crosby MM, 2005. Effect of selenium–vitamin Einjection in selenium-deficient dairy goats and kids on the Mexican plateau. Journal Arquivo Brasileiro de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia 57: 77–84.
Shayeghi V, Ramin AG, Asri-Rezaei S and Hassanzadeh A, 2017. Effects of nano selenium particles, mineral selenium and αlfa-tocopherol on glutathione peroxidase activity, blood selenium level and weight gain in suckling lambs. Journal of Animal Science Researches 27: 149-163.
Sheppard AD, Blom L and Grant AB, 1984. Levels of selenium in blood and tissues associated with some selenium deficiency diseases in New Zealand sheep. New Zealand Veterinary Journal 32:91-95.
Shi LG, Xun WJ, Yue WB, Zhang CX, Ren YS, Liu Q, Wang Q and Shi L, 2011. Effect of elemental nano-selenium on feed digestibility, rumen fermentation, and purine derivates in sheep. Animal Feed Science and Technology 163: 136-142
Smith KL, Harrison JH, Hancock DD, Todhunter DA and Conrad HR, 1984. Effect of vitamin E and selenium supplementation on incidence of clinical mastitis and duration of clinical symptoms. Journal of Dairy Science 67: 1293–1300.
Smith KL, Hogan JS and Weiss WP, 1997. Dietary vitamin E and selenium affect mastitis and milk quality. Journal of Animal Science 75:1659–1665.
Surai PF, 2006. Selenium in nutrition and health. Nottingham University, press, Nottingham.
Vanegas JR and Atwill Reynolds ER, 2004. Effects of an injectable trace mineral supplement on first-service conception rate of dairy cows. Journal of Dairy Science 87: 3665–3671.
Weiss WP, 2003. Relationship of mineral and vitamin supplement with mastitis and milk quality. Pp. 37–44. In: National Mastitis Council Annual Meeting Proceeding, Orlando, FL, USA.
Weiss WP, Todhunter DA, Hogan JS and Smith KL, 1990. Effect of duration of supplementation of selenium and vitamin E on preparturient dairy cows. Journal of Dairy Science, 73:3187.
Wichtel JJ, Craigie Varela-Alvarez ALH and Williamson NB, 1994. The effect of intraruminal selenium pellets on growth rate, lactation and reproductive-efficiency in dairy cattle. New Zealand Veterinary Journal 42: 205–211.
Zhan X, Wang M, Zhao R, Li W and Xu Z, 2007. Effects of different selenium source on selenium distribution, loin quality and antioxidant status in finishing pigs. Animal Feed Science and Technology 132:202-211.
Zhang J, Wang X and Xu T, 2007. Elemental selenium at nano size (Nano-Se) as a potential chemopreventive agent with reduced risk of selenium toxicity: comparison with se-methylselenocysteine in mice. Toxicological Sciences 101:22-31.