Popis: |
The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of dietary levels of inorganic and organic selenium (Se) on performance, meat physicochemical characteristics, and Se deposition in the tissues of broilers chickens. A total of 2,880 one-day-old broilers (Cobb 500 strain) were divided into 96 experimental pens of 30 birds each. The 12 experimental treatments were arranged in a factorial design of 4 × 3 [selenium levels of 0.15, 0.30, 0.45, and 0.60 ppm, and organic (selenium yeast, SY) or inorganic (sodium selenite, SS) sources of selenium and their association (SY + SS)], with 8 replicates in a completely randomized design. No differences (P > 0.05) among Se levels or sources were detected with regard to any performance parameters. The average values of ADFI, ADG, and FCR were 106 g/bird per day, 63 g/bird per day, and 1.684 kg/kg, respectively. No differences (P > 0.05) were found between treatments regarding pH (5.79) and shear force (30.08 kgf). Those birds receiving 0.15 ppm of Se showed a significantly higher (21.92%) cooking loss of breast meat (P |