Effect of selenium supplementation on feed intake and nutrient utilization in cattle and buffaloes

Abstract

Male calves (10) each ofcrossbred cattle (Karan Fries) and Murrah buffalo, were randomly distributed into 2 groups of5 animals each in a 2-way randomized block design to study the effect of high level ofsupplementary seleni urn (Se) on feed intake and nutrient utilization. The animals in group T, (Low-Se) were fed on basal ration (dietary Se = 0.487 ppm) consisting of paddy straw and concentrate mixture in order to meet their requirements. The animals in group T2 (High-Se) were supplemented with 2.70 ppm ofSe as sodium selenite over and above the basal ration. A small quantity of green maize fodder was fed to meet B-carotene needs of the animals in both the groups. A metabolism trial was conducted after 2 months of experimental feeding. There was no significant effect of dietary Se level on DM intake, water intake, digestibility ofnutrients and nitrogen utilization in cattle as well as in buffaloes. The differences between species were also non-significant. The average DM intake was 2.66 ± 0.09 and 2.58 ± 0.11 kgll 00 kg body weight in cattle and buffaloes respectively. All the animals showed positive nitrogen balance and the faecal and urinary excretion patterns ofnitrogen were similar in both the species. The plane ofnutrition was also similar under two dietary treatments in both the species. Hence, supplementary Se at 2.70 ppm level was not found to have any significant effect on DM intake and nutrient utilization in either of the species.