Poultry Science (Nov 2020)

Dietary supplementation with selenium-enriched earthworm powder improves antioxidative ability and immunity of laying hens

  • Xiaofei Sun,
  • Shi-zhong Yue,
  • Yu-hui Qiao,
  • Zhen-jun Sun,
  • Chong Wang,
  • Hua-fen Li

Journal volume & issue
Vol. 99, no. 11
pp. 5344 – 5349

Abstract

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Selenium (Se) has been recognized as an essential dietary nutrient for decades, and organic Se sources rather than inorganic ones are increasingly advocated as Se supplements. Earthworms have been studied as a feed additive and animal protein source for many yr. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of Se-enriched earthworm powder (SEP) on the antioxidative ability and immunity of laying hens. A total of 120 27-wk-old laying hens were randomly divided into 4 groups (30 hens per group). Laying hens were fed diets supplemented with SEP having 0, 0.5, or 1 mg/kg of Se or with earthworm powder alone. After 5 wk of supplementation, serum from the hens was tested for nutritional components (protein, globulin, albumin, triglycerides, total cholesterol, and glucose), antioxidative properties (glutathione peroxidase, superoxide dismutase, catalase, and nitric oxide), and immune responses (lysozymes, immunoglobulin G, IL-2, and interferon gamma). We found that SEP with 1.0 mg/kg of Se upregulated the hens' total protein, albumin, glutathione peroxidase, superoxide dismutase, IgG, and IL-2 and downregulated triglycerides, total cholesterol, glucose, and nitric oxide. These results indicate that SEP improves antioxidative levels and immune function of laying hens, indicating potential benefit from use of SEP as a feed additive in the poultry industry.

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