Tissue Selenium Content and Serum Tocopherols as Influenced by Dietary Type, Selenium and Vitamin E ,

A study was conducted using 672 pullets of the Regional Control and DeKalb 131 laying type strains fed either a corn-soy type diet or a semi-purified type diet supplemented with high (10 p.p.m.) or low (0 or 2 p.p.m.) amounts of vitamin E and 0, 0.1 and 1.0 p.p.m. of selenium (Se) fed as sodium selenite. There were no significant differences in rates of egg production due to Se or vitamin E supplements. The DeKalb strain produced larger eggs of higher interior quality (Haugh units). Supplementing the corn-soy diet which contained 0.48 p.p.m. Se with 1 p.p.m. of Se resulted in the production of slightly smaller eggs. Mortality was significantly (P < 0.01) higher in hens fed the semi-purified diet, and their body weights were significantly (P < 0.01) less than those of hens fed the corn-soy diet. The Regional Controls were heavier than the DeKalb strain. Slightly less feed was consumed with added Se or with the purified diet. Fertility and percent hatchability of eggs were higher with the corn-soy diet but were not influenced by vitamin E. Selenium at 0.1 p.p.m. enhanced hatchability of fertile eggs. The Se contents of eggs and tissues were most consistently increased with the 1.0 p.p.m. supplement of sodium selenite. A greater proportion of supplemental Se was deposited in tissues and eggs when feeding the semi-purified diet which contained very low natural levels of the element (ca 0.05 p.p.m.). Vitamin E singly or in combination did not influence Se deposited in eggs and tissues, but did increase serum tocopherol levels.