Effects of Nano-Selenium and organic selenium in comparison with Vitamin-C on growth performance, small intestine morphology and lipogenesis in broiler chickens

A total of 192 one-day old Ross-308 broiler chickens were divided to 4 treatment groups of 48 chicks. Treatment groups were Control (Basal diet), vit-c (Basal diet+500mg/kg vit-c), Nano-Selenium (Basal diet+0.3mg/kg Nano-Se), and organic Selenium (Basal diet+0.3mg/kg Organic-Se). Chicks were raised until 35th day and growth performance was evaluated during the growing period. At day 35, 12 birds were selected in each group, bled and sacrificed to assess the relative weight of carcass, liver and spleen and to calculate the duodenal morphology and serum lipogenesis factors.Results showed that FCR of Nano-Selenium group was numerically better among groups but without significant differences (P>0.05) and relative carcass weight were also numerically higher in both vit-c and Nano-Selenium groups than that of others. The highest percent of liver weight were recorded in control group and had significant difference with vit-c group which could decrease relative liver weight (P<0.05). Moreover, spleen weight was increased in both Nano and organic Se groups. About morphological parameters of intestine, liberkuhn gland depth and villi height and surface of duodenum were enhanced in Nano-Selenium more than others and had significant differences with control group in all of the parameters (P<0.05). The differences of serum lipogenesis factors’ were not statistically significant but organic selenium had lower triglyceride and cholesterol levels than others. Meanwhile, PCV was decreased in Nano-Selenium groups. It could be concluded that Nano-Selenium is a better choice for improving performance parameters in broiler chickens than organic selenium and vit-c due to better impact on intestinal villi surface area and liberkun glands