Effects of maternal and progeny dietary selenium supplementation on growth performance and antioxidant capacity in ducklings

This study evaluated the effects of selenium (Se) supplementation in maternal and offspring diets on performance and antioxidant capacity of ducklings aged from 0 to 2 wk. A total of 144 female Longyan duck breeders aged 22-wk were allotted into 2 treatments and fed a control diet or a 0.16 mg Se/kg supplemented diet. At 40-wk, 120 offspring from each treatment were divided into 2 groups, with 6 replicates of 10 birds. Using a 2 × 2 factorial design, ducklings from each maternal dietary treatment were assigned to a control diet or a 0.16 mg Se/kg supplemented diet from hatch to 2-wk. Compared with Se-deficient diet, maternal diet supplemented with 0.16 mg Se/kg increased the BW of hatchlings (P < 0.01). There were interactions between maternal and progeny diet with 0.16 mg Se/kg in BW of ducklings aged 2 wk and BW gain (BWG) as ducklings from maternal Se/progeny none treatment had the lightest BW and BWG (P < 0.01). Maternal diet with 0.16 mg Se/kg decreased plasma concentration of uric acid and insulin-like growth factor 1 (P < 0.01), and progeny diet supplemented with 0.16 mg Se/kg increased the activities of glutathione peroxidase 3 (GPx3) in plasma and glutathione peroxidase 1 in erythrocyte (P < 0.01). Maternal diet with 0.16 mg Se/kg increased (P < 0.05) the hepatic activity of total superoxide dismutase (T-SOD). Progeny diet supplemented with 0.16 mg Se/kg increased (P < 0.01) hepatic activity of GPx3 and decreased (P < 0.01) the hepatic concentration of malondialdehyde. Interactions were detected between maternal and progeny diet with 0.16 mg Se/kg in hepatic activity of T-SOD and maternal and progeny diet supplemented with Se displayed the highest hepatic activity of T-SOD (P < 0.05). Overall, Se supplementation in the diet of duck breeders and offspring increased the antioxidant capacity of ducklings. Maternal Se supplementation increased the BW of hatchlings, whereas maternal and progeny dietary Se supplementation did not affect the BWG of ducklings aged from 0 to 2 wk. Se supplementation with additional 0.16 mg/kg in the diet of duck breeders and offspring displayed beneficial effects particularly on the antioxidant capacity in ducklings.