Effect of selenium and vitamin E supplementation on reproductive indices and biochemical metabolites in Raieni goats

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of selenium (Se) and vitamin (vit) E supplementation on reproductive indices and biochemical metabolites in Raieni goats. Ninety adult Raieni goats, weighing 43 ± 2.5 kg and with a body condition score of 3.5 ± 0.1, were randomly allocated into nine groups which entered into an experiment with 3 × 3 factorial design. The experimental diets consist of three levels of se (0.0, 0.3 and 0.5 mg/kg of feed) and three levels of vit E (0.0, 20 and 50 mg/kg of feed). At the end of the experiment, blood samples were collected from the jugular vein of all goats into 10-ml vacuum tubes (venoject). Serum was recovered by centrifugation (10 m at 3000 rpm) and stored at –20°C until assayed for the concentration of biochemical metabolites (glucose, cholesterol, triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein (LDL), high-density lipoprotein (HDL), total proteins, albumin and T3 and T4). The results of this experiment revealed that supplementation of diets with Se or vit E had no significant effect on biochemical metabolites or reproductive traits. However, the interactive effect of Se and vit E on reproductive indices was significant (P < 0.05), with goats fed diets containing 0.5 mg/kg Se and 20 mg/kg vit E, giving birth to heavier kids compared to those which received the other dietary treatments.