Selisseo - How Selenium Enhances Egg Quality and Productivity

How selenium enhances egg quality and productivity

A study in 50- to 70-week-old semi-heavy laying hens (Dekalb Brown) under heat stress compared 0.3 ppm selenium from hydroxy-selenomethionine (OH-SeMet) with 0.3 ppm from sodium selenite (SS). Hens fed OH-SeMet had a 5% lower feed conversion ratio per egg mass and 3.6% more egg mass than hens fed SS, signifying improved feed efficiency.

The organic source also improved egg quality parameters, including eggshell thickness and Haugh units, increased glutathione peroxidase activity and egg selenium content, and improved bone resistance, which is important for structural integrity in older laying hens. These results apply to the conditions tested (hen age, heat stress, 0.3 ppm Se, sodium selenite as comparator).

Reference: Brito et al. (2023). Hydroxy-selenomethionine enhances the productivity and egg quality of 50- to 70-week-old semi-heavy laying hens under heat stress. Poultry Science, 102(2), 102320.