Effects of Replacing Mineral Selenium Supplement with Selenium Nanoparticles on Feed Digestibility and Ruminal Parameters of suckling Dairy Calves

This study aimed to investigate the effects of replacing mineral selenium supplement with nano-selenium particles in feeding infant calves and its effects on nutrient digestibility and, rumen fermentation characteristics. The number of 32 newborn Holstein calves with an average body weight of 37.85 ± 4.35 kg in the form of a completely randomized design with 4 treatments (eight calves in each treatment) for 83 days according to the supplemental consumption of milk or drinking water with sources different selenium were placed. Treatments include: 1) mineral selenium: providing 0.3 mg of selenium per kilogram of dry matter with sodium selenite source, 2) Low level of nano selenium: providing 0.15 mg of selenium per kilogram of dry matter with nanoparticles prepared from selenium source, 3 (Medium level of nano-selenium: providing 0.3 mg of selenium per kilogram of dry matter with nanoparticles prepared from selenium source, 4) High level of nano-selenium: providing 0.45 mg of selenium per kilogram of dry matter with nanoparticles prepared from selenium source. The results showed that improve the digestibility of protein and insoluble fibers in neutral detergent with nano-selenium. Ruminal ammonia nitrogen concentration in calves fed with rations supplemented with nano-selenium tended to decrease (p = 0.08) in a quadratic way, and its average level was the lowest. Acetate concentration for calves fed nano-selenium decreased (p < 0.01), while propionate concentration increased (p < 0.05) for calves fed nano-selenium. The results of this study showed that nano-selenium was effective in improving feed digestibility.