The Effect of Selenium on Reproduction in Swine

Abstract

Thirty weanling Duroc gilts were used to study the effect of selenium on swine reproduction and the value of arsanilic acid as a selenium poisoning preventive. Ten p.p.m. of selenite selenium lowered the conception rate and increased the number of services required per conception. Sows fed this ration farrowed a higher percentage of dead pigs and their pigs were smaller and weaker at birth. Fewer pigs were weaned and the 56-day weights of these pigs were significantly reduced. Arsanilic acid in the selenium ration resulted in an improvement in percentage of pigs farrowed alive but did not improve the birth weights or average number of pigs weaned per litter. The greatest advantage of arsanilic acid appeared to be in increasing the weight of pigs at 56 days. Copyright © . .