Abstract

Mexico has selenium deficiency in most of its territory, this has consequences on animal health, decreasing immunity and productive parameters, such as food consumption and weight gain. The present work evaluated the selenium supplementation in kids in three study groups; One group was supplemented with selenium orally through intraruminal boluses (GBSe) (7 animals); a group was supplemented with selenium parenterally (GSeP) (7 animals); a control group without treatment (GC) (6 animals). Feed intake, weight gain, and immune response were measured trough serum IgG levels against a bacterin-toxoid. It was observed that the supplemented animals had higher levels of selenium in erythrocytes unlike the control group (GC) (p <0.05), but no differences were observed associated with the route of administration of the mineral (p> 0.05). Supplementation apparently did not have a clear effect on feed intake and weight gain (p> 0.05). It was possible to increase the concentrations of the mineral in erythrocytes in the supplemented animals. The humoral immune response was influenced by selenium supplementation.

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