EFFECT OF VITAMIN E AND SELENIUM ON REPRODUCTIVE EFFICIENCY IN NUBIAN GOATS

Abstract

Selenium found in plants is ideally suited to the animal digestation and metabolism because it is in the form of selenium acids. Unfortunately, livestock producers have been forced to relyon inorganic selenium sources, such as selenite, in regions where siol and plants produce feed ingrients with low selenium content. In this study, two experiments were conducted to evaluate the effect of only selenium or synergized with vit E on the reproductive performance of Nubian goats. Twenty two non pregnant goats were selected and kept under indoor ad lib. forageing plus concentrate offered on daily basis at the rate of 1 kg per group. The goats were divided to six groups according to similar body weight basis. Three groups A, B and C constituting 5, 3 and 3 heads respectively were assigned for each experiment. Group A was designated as control, selenium free. Selenium premix wad dosed at 0 (devoid), 5 (low) and 10 (high) mg/kg (first experiment) or synergized with vitamin E 0+0 (devoid), 5+250( low) and 10+500 (high) mg/kg+ I.U./g (second experiment) twice weekly , fed in concentrate by dilution to groups A, B and C respectively . Goats' health was observed throughout the experimental period during gestation and delivery. Blood samples were analyzed every three weeks for RBCs count, Hb concentration, PCV, WBCs count and their differential lymphocytes. Sera were analyzed for metabolic indicators glucose, total protein, albumen, globulin and cholesterol, electrolytes Ca, P and Se and Serum enzymes ALT and ALP. Gestation start was assessed by palpation. On delivery, neonate sex, average birth and one month weights (kg) were recorded. All experimental goats were healthy althrough the experimental period with normal voluntary feed intake, behavioural patterns and deliveries. Hematological findings show non significant (p>0.05) differences among all treatments and goups. Values of LS were higher than those of HS, but always higher (P> 0.05) than the control except for lymphocytes of HS (4.90±2.99). WBCs varied (p>0.05) with different treatments HsHv 17.74±5.05 followed by LsLv17.17±5.51, Ls 14.48±3.45 and Hs 13.42±5.2 when compared to the control (13.55±4.93). Little effect (p>0.05) was imposed on Hb in the diffenent treatments compared to the control. All serum metabolites values were not significant (P>0.05) compared to the control. The glocuse level was higher (p>0.05) for the treatments Hs (9.25±5.02) and LsLv (8.00±4.98). For total protein, Albumin and Globulin showed a better (p>0.05) reponse to the treatment with Hs (7.26±0.43), LsLv (3.83±0.49), and Hs (3.81±0.69) respectively compared to all other treatments. Cholesterol values were higher (p>0.05) for all treatments except with HS. Selenium concentrations, high and low correlates insignificantly (p>0.05) with total protein, but HsHv and LsLv correlates significantly (p<0.05, p<0.01 respectively) with total protein. Hs, HsHv and LsLv correlates significantly (p<0.01) with cholesterol whereas Ls correlates also significantly (p<0.05) with cholesterol. On regression of selenium, total protein and cholesterol, coefficients were only significant (p<0.05) in selenium for Hs and Ls concentrations. For minerals Ca and P, results showed nonsignificant (p>0.05) mean treatment differences, though Ca showed a better response with HsHv (9.23±0.97). Synergized Se values 36.67±32.62 (HsHv) and 36.47±13.73 (LsLv) were the only significant (p<0.05) of the experimental groups. Activities of ALP and ALT were nonsignificant (p>0.05) when compared with the control. Avarge birth and one month weights (kg) of newborns were ascending in values for control, Ls and Hs, wheras same values were descending for control, LsLv and HsHv. The effect of Se alone or synergized with vitamin E on goat reproduction in this study was not significant, deflating positive expectations. The reason was attributed to the effect imposed on bioavailability and absorption of Se by the quality and quantity of feed supplied.