Abstract
The effects of inorganic selenium (Se), selenate and selenite on Se balance levels in the different ruminal fluid fractions were studied using Japanese Corriedale wethers with an average body weight of 47 kg. A $3{\times}3$ Latin square design was used with three animal, three periods and three treatments. In each period, there was 7 d dietary adjustment followed by 5 d total collection of urine and feces. Ruminal fluid samples were obtained at 0, 1, 3, 5 and 7 h postprandially on the final day of the collection period. The three dietary treatments were: (1) without Se supplementation (control); (2) with Se supplement as sodium selenate; and (3) sodium selenite at a rate of 0.2 mg Se/kg dietary DM. The basal diet was timothy hay (Phleum pratense L.) fed 2% of body weight/d. Results indicated that Se balance were higher (p < 0.05) for those animals under supplementation than those animals under control. Overall data gathered showed a similar digestion balance of selenate and selenite in sheep. Inorganic Se, both selenate and selenite produced positive Se contents of the ruminal feed particles and protozoa. Bacterial Se increased (p < 0.05) on the first three hours post-prandially in Se supplemented diets. Gross ruminal fluid fraction, although there was improvement on their Se content under the supplemented diets, the changes were insignificant over the control. free inorganic Se and Se in soluble protein of the ruminal fluid were not significantly different for selenate and selenite. Most of the Se in the ruminal fluids of the animals under supplementation were insoluble, indicating the influence of rumen environments on Se bioavaliability.