Replacing dietary sodium selenite with a lower level of hydroxy-selenomethionine improves the performance of broiler breeders and their progeny

Abstract

The aim of this study has been to compare the effect of sodium selenite (SS) or hydroxy-selenometionine (OH-SeMet) on the performance of broiler breeders and their progeny. A total of 216 broiler breeders (AP95 Aviagen; 55-65 weeks old) were assigned to two treatments: a diet supplemented with 0.3 mg Se Se/kg as SS or a diet supplemented with 0.2 mg Se Se/kg as OH-SeMet. A total of 520 mixed progeny chicks were used for a growth trial (41 d), in a completely randomised 2 × 2 factoria design: 2 sources of Se for the breeder diets and two sources of Se for the progeny diets–SS at 0.3 mg Se Se/kg and OH-SeMet at 0.2 mg Se Se/kg. OH-SeMet increased the egg production, the Se content in the egg, eggshell strength and hatchability (p