EFFECT OF DIETARY SELENIUM LEVELS ON SOME SKIN CHARACTERISTICS IN BARKI SHEEP

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Wool Production and Technology Department, Animal and Poultry Division, Desert Research Center. Mataryia, Cairo, Egypt.

2 Animal Feeding Department, Animal and Poultry Division, Desert Research Center. Mataryia, Cairo, Egypt.

Abstract

This experiment was carried out at Ras Suder Experimental Station, south Sinai governorate on twelve weaned Barki ram lambs with average LBW of 13.81 ±1.60 and 4 months of age. The present work was designed to throw some lights on the histological responses and the histochemical changes in the skin of Barki lambs in relation to different selenium levels in diets. The histological measurements involved the wool follicle dimensions (external and internal diameters, wall thickness and fiber diameter). Histochemical measurements dealt with the total contents of carbohydrates and proteins in the wool follicles.
Histological examination showed that selenium supplementation to the sheep diet at a level of 0.7 ppm significantly (P<0.05) increased the secondary follicle dimensions as compared to level of 1.4 ppm or control group. Values of fiber diameters significantly (P<0.05) increased to 8.16 µm in the fibers produced from the secondary follicles as compared to 5.57 and 5.35 µm in 0.7ppm and control groups, respectively. Carbohydrate concentration was in the outer root sheath of the primary and secondary follicles markedly (P<0.05) increased by the usage of 0.7 ppm supplementation level of selenium. However, protein concentration increased (P<0.05)  by increasing level of selenium to 1.4 ppm only.  
It could be concluded that good selenium supplementation with adequate antioxidants is important in order to improve wool follicle characteristics.

Keywords

Journal of Animal and Poultry Production
Volume 34, Issue 2
February 2009
Pages 991-1000

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