Comparative effects of barley feed and sodium selenite on selenium levels in hen eggs and tissues

Authors

• E. Kääntee 66270 Pörtom, Finland
• P. Kurkela 66270 Pörtom, Finland

DOI: https://doi.org/10.23986/afsci.72039

Abstract

An investigation was made into the effects of barleys with varying levels of selenium, and of sodium selenite, on the selenium content of organs in laying hens (blood, spleen, breast muscle, liver, kidney, lung, heart, gizzard and ovary) and in the yolks and whites of their eggs. The results indicated that grain Se affects the Se level of organs far more than sodium selenite supplementation. The Se concentrations of feed and organs correlate logarithmically, and blood Se in hen is the most reliable indicator of the Se level in other organs. It was typically observed that while variations in grain Se caused similar changes in the Se level of both egg yolk and white, sodium selenite primarily affected the yolk Se level. This contrasting effect is similar to that found in earlier published reports.