Effects of yeast selenium supplementation levels on reproductive performance,antioxidant function of ewes,and growth and immune function of lambs

ZHI Lihong; WANG Yuqin; LI Chengshan

doi:10.13557/j.cnki.issn1002-2813.2025.18.006

Abstract：The experiment aimed to investigate the effects of yeast selenium on the reproductive performance,antioxidant function of ewes in the later stage of pregnancy,and the growth and immune function of offspring lambs.A total of 20 healthy Duhan hybrid ewes of the second litter with a gestation period of(122±4)days were selected and randomly divided into four groups,with five replicates per group and one ewe per replicate.The control group was fed with the basal diet,while the experimental groups were supplemented with 0.15(group Ⅰ),0.25(group Ⅱ),and 0.35 mg/kg(group Ⅲ)of yeast selenium in the basal diet,respectively.The pre-test period was seven days and the formal test period was 49 days.The results showed that the concentrations of luteinizing hormone and follicle-stimulating hormone in the serum of pregnant ewes in group Ⅱ were significantly higher than in the control group(P＜0.05).The litter weight of the offspring lambs at 21 days of age in group Ⅲ was significantly higher than in the control group and group Ⅰ(P＜0.05),and the average daily weight gain was extremely higher than in the control group and group Ⅰ(P＜0.01).The activities of serum aspartate aminotransferase and alkaline phosphatase in postpartum ewes of group Ⅰ were significantly higher than in other groups(P＜0.05).The serum alkaline phosphatase activity of postpartum ewes in groups Ⅱ and Ⅲ was significantly lower than in the control group(P＜0.05).The serum total protein content of the offspring lambs in group Ⅲwas significantly higher than in group Ⅰ(P＜0.05),and the serum globulin and total cholesterol concentrations were significantly higher than in other groups(P＜0.05).The serum albumin content of the offspring lambs in group Ⅱ was extremely higher than in other groups(P＜0.01).The serum immunoglobulin A content of the offspring lambs in groups Ⅱ and Ⅲ was significantly higher than in the control group and group Ⅰ(P＜0.05).Compared with the control group,the serum malondialdehyde content of postpartum ewes in the experimental groups was significantly decreased(P＜0.05),and the activity of superoxide dismutase was significantly increased(P＜0.05).The serum glutathione peroxidase activity and total antioxidant capacity of ewes in group Ⅱ were significantly increased(P＜0.05).The study indicates that adding an appropriate amount of yeast selenium to the diet of pregnant ewes can increase reproductive hormone levels and antioxidant capacityof ewes,improve the growth performance and immunity of offspring lambs,and the effect is better at dose of 0.25 to 0.35 mg/kg.