Speaking at Alltech’s annual European Selenium Conference: "Selenium in animal and human health – Nutrition inspired by nature", the experts emphasised the detrimental effect that this deficiency can have on health."We hear that selenium is important – that is not enough – it is essential" said Professor Gerhard Schrauzer of the University of California, San Diego, USA.

Potential solution
While speakers concurred that selenium supplementation could provide a potential solution, inorganic selenium salts are not the solution due to their low ‘bioavailabilty’ and sustainability in the body. Research comparing organic selenium supplementation, in the form of Sel-Plex®, (Alltech’s organic selenium produced by Saccharomyces cerevisiae CNCM I-3060) to selenite supplementation in the diets of ruminants, pigs and poultry was presented.

"Compared to selenite, Sel-Plex resulted in an extra 4.5 chicks per hen. In breeders, Sel-Plex resulted in more uniform chick weights and length. Over 36 trials in breeders, replacing selenite with Sel-Plex gave an average of 35 g/bird more and FCR (Feed Conversion Rate) was reduced by 6 points" said Dr. Peter Spring, Swiss College of Agriculture, Switzerland.

Pig diets
Irish consultant, Dr. Wallace Henry, found similar results in pig diets, "Changing from selenite to Sel-Plex in sow diets gives between 0.57 – 0.72 extra weaned pigs per annum – that’s 645 pigs per 1000 sows. Pigs from sows fed Sel-Plex are also heavier at weaning by 0.5 kg."
"Cows fed Sel-Plex tend to produce a much greater amount of seleno-protein P. In beef, Sel-Plex increases the GSH-Px in the tissue that enhances oxidative stability", according to Dr. Darren Juniper, Reading University, UK.

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