Veterinary Medicine and Science (Jul 2024)

The effect of hydroxy‐selenomethionine on the productive and reproductive performance of old broiler breeders

  • Ahmad Manafi,
  • Yahya Ebrahimnezhad,
  • Habib Aghdam Shahryar,
  • Abdolahad Shaddel Teli,
  • Abolfazl Gorbani,
  • Naser Maheri‐Sis

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1002/vms3.1538
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 10, no. 4
pp. n/a – n/a

Abstract

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Abstract Background Selenium (Se) is a rare essential element that plays a vital role in the health and performance of animals. By interfering in the production of antioxidant enzymes such as glutathione peroxidase, thioredoxin reductase and methionine sulfoxide, Se plays a role in reducing the effects of oxidative stress and animal performance. Objectives This study aimed to investigate the effect of hydroxy‐selenomethionine (OH‐SeMet) in the diet of broiler breeder and old broiler breeder roosters on productive performance, reproduction and sperm quality parameters. Methods For this purpose, 260 broiler breeders of the Ross 308 strain were used in a completely randomized design with four treatments and five replications (13 hens and one rooster in each replication). Experimental treatments included: (1) a basal diet without OH‐SeMet (T1:control), (2) a broiler breeder diet without OH‐SeMet and a rooster diet containing 0.1 mg/kg OH‐SeMet (T2), (3) broiler breeder diet containing 0.1 mg/kg OH‐SeMet and rooster diet without OH‐SeMet (T3) and (4) broiler breeder and rooster diet contained 0.1 mg/kg OH‐SeMet (T4). Results The results showed that T3 and T4 treatments improved egg production, egg weight, egg mass and feed conversion ratio (FCR) compared to the control treatment (p < 0.05). The fertility and hatchability percentages of T4 and T2 treatments increased compared to T1 and T3 treatments (p < 0.05). The rate of embryonic losses in T1 was higher than in other treatments. However, grade one chickens were higher in T4 than in other treatments (p < 0.05). Total motility and viability of sperms were significantly higher in T2 and T4 treatments than in T1 and T3 treatments. The sperm abnormality percentage and sperm MDA concentration decreased in T2 and T4 treatments. Conclusions Therefore, using OH‐SeMet may be a practical approach to help old broiler breeders’ production and reproduction performance.

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