Effect of different levels of dietary selenium on growth performance and nutrient utilization of broiler birds

Abstract

Experiment was conducted on 120 broiler chicks for six weeks and their weight gain was taken for consecutive six weeks to observe the effect of different levels of dietary selenium over growth and nutrient utilization of birds. There were three diets prepared with 0.125, 0.15 and 0.175 mg Se/Kg feed for group T1, T2 and T3 respectively. The FCR and performance index at 1st week for T1 were 1.34±0.02 and 21.21±0.36 that for T2 was 1.51±0.01 and 16.56±0.40 and for T3 were 1.29±0.02 and 23.88±0.50, the experiment continues for 6 weeks the FCR and performance index at 6th week in T1, T2 and T3 was 3.42±0.19 and 7.37±0.78, 3.56±0.05 and 6.51±0.25, 3.56±0.15 and 6.85±0.58. The percent retention of nutrients was highest in T3 group as compare to T1 and T2 which was supplemented @ 17.50 mg Se/kg of feed. Therefore it was concluded that supplementation of selenium @ 17.50 mg/kg diet of poultry enhances the growth rate as well as nutrient retention in the broiler birds.