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Turkish Journal of Veterinary & Animal Sciences

Effects of Vitamin E and Selenium on Rumen Protozoa in Lambs

DOI

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Abstract

The present study was undertaken to determine the effects of selenium and vitamin E on number of rumen protozoa, volatile fatty acids, pH and ammonia nitrogen in rumen content. Twelve lambs were used and divided randomly into three groups. One group was used as control. Second group was fed with vitamin E (DL-a tocopheryl acetyl, 250 mg/kg feed) and third group was fed with selenium (Sodium selenit, 0.3 mg/kg feed) supplemented diet. Rumen contents of all lambs were obtained three times in the day [before feeding (08.00 hour) and at the 3rd (11.00 hour) and 6th (14.00 hour) hours after feeding] on a weekly basis for ten weeks. In addition, all of lambs were weighed at two weeks intervals. In vitamin E group, levels of acetic, propionic, butyric and total volatile fatty acids and numbers of total protozoa were statististically higher comparing with those of control group. However, pH values and percentage of Isotricha, Dasytricha ruminantum, Diplodinium were statistically lower in vitamin E group than in control. Ammonia nitrogen levels did not differ between two groups. In selenium group, levels of acetic, propionic, butyric and total volatile fatty acids, numbers of total protozoa and percentage of Diplodinium and Ophryoscolex caudatum were statistically higher comparing with those of control group while pH values were higher in control group. In vitamin E group, butyric acid and levels of total volatile fatty acids and number of total protozoa were statistically lower (P

Keywords

Vitamin E, Selenium, Rumen Protozoa, Volatile Fatty Acids, Ammonia Nitrogen.

First Page

81

Last Page

90

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