Effect of long term dietary organic selenium supplementation on semen parameters and testicular development in coloured broiler breeder parents and progeny

The present study was aimed at evaluating the effect of dietary organic selenium supplementation on different semen parameters and testicular development in pullets. Forty eight adult Punjab Broiler-2 breeder dam line males were assigned in to six groups (Controlno selenium, 0.15, 0.25, 0.35, 0.45 mg/kg organic selenium in the form of yeast source or 0.15 mg/kg inorganic selenium from sodium selenite) and semen was evaluated periodically. Chicks produced from these males maintained at similar selenium levels were slaughtered at 15, 19 and 23 weeks of age and testes histologically evaluated. Dietary Se supplementation did not influence semen qualitative parameters. The seminal lipid peroxidation was significantly (P<0.05) higher in inorganic selenium group. Pullet testes development was not influenced by dietary selenium supplementation. In conclusion, selenium supplementation in feed did not improve semen parameters and testicular development in coloured broiler breeders.