The present study was carried out to compare the efficiency of different selenium (Se) sources [sodium selenite (SS), Se enriched yeast (Sel-Plex) and Nano-Se] on productive performance, lipid peroxidation, antioxidative status and immunity function of local chickens strain exposed to summer condition (high ambient temperature). One hundred and twenty birds, were randomly divided into 4 treatments: (1) control (basal diet without any supplementation of selenium), (2) SS (basal diet + 0.3 mg Se as SS / kg diet); (3) basal diet + 0.3 mg Nano-Se/ kg diet (Nano-Se); and (4) basal diet + 0.3 mg organic Se/ kg diet (Sel-Plex). The experimental diets are given to birds from 30 to 42 wk of age. Under hyperthermia, dietary 0.3 ppm Sel-Plex or Nano-Se improved feed conversion (g feed/g egg mass), egg production percentage and egg mass (g/d) (P < 0.05). Supplementing diets with Nano-Se increased total protein and globulin content compared with control diet. While, addition different sources of selenium significantly decreased malondialdehyde (MDA) content compared with treat (1) diet. Interestingly, under rise ambient temperature, the inclusion of 0.3 ppm Sel-Plex or Nano-Se in the chikens diet significantly enhanced the antioxidant enzyme (GSH-Px) activity being greater than 2-folds of the controls. Chickens fed diet supplemented with Sel-Plex or Nano-Se showed about 1.5-folds increase in seminal plasma (GSH-Px) compared with control diet. Dietary 0.3 ppm Sel-Plex or Nano-Se had a positive significant effect on Phagocytic activity (PA) and Phagocytic index (PI) on high ambient temperature. In conclusion, dietary 0.3 ppm organic Se or Nano-Se enhanced productive performance, antioxidative properties and immunity in chickens reared under heat stress conditions.

he study was performed to evaluate the effect of organic chromium (Cr), organic selenium (Se) or vitamin C (vit. C) alone or in combination on reproductive performance, and egg quality of Dokki-4 laying hens under hot summer conditions of Egypt. A total number of 240 hens plus 48 cocks from Dokki-4 strain at 30 weeks of age were randomly selected and distributed into eight groups with 3 replicates (10 hens + 1 cock) each. The remaining 24 cocks were also divided into 8 groups of 3 cocks each and housed separately for semen evaluation experiment. Treatments groups were fed a basal diet (control group) or the basal diet supplemented with either 400 µg Cr/kg diet (Cr group), 250 mg of L-ascorpic acid /kg diet (vit. C. group), 0.2 mg Se/kg diet (Se group), 400 µg Cr plus 250 mg of L-ascorpic acid/ kg diet (Cr + vit. C group), 400 µg Cr plus 0.2 mg Se/kg diet (Cr + Se group), 2 mg Se plus 250 mg L-ascorbic acid/kg diet (Se + vit. C. group) and 400 µ Cr plus 0.2 mg Se plus 250 mg ascorbic acid /Kg diet (Cr + Se + vit.C group). All groups were put under observation for 12 weeks. Results obtained can be summarized as follows: Supplementation of Cr, Se or vitamin C alone or in combinations significantly increased (P < 0.05) shell thickness, haugh units, albumin and shell to egg weight, sperm motility, ejaculate volume, sperm concentration, total sperm output, total motile sperm, live spermatozoa, semen quality factor and significantly decreased (P < 0.05) dead spermatozoa and seminal malondialdehyde (MDA) as compared with control group. The best result was obtained for layers fed diet containing the combinations of the three supplements (Cr, Se or vitamin C) as compared to other groups. In conclusion, combinations of Cr, Se and vitamin C improved the most reproductive traits and egg quality of Dokki-4 strain under Egyptian hot summer.

This study was performed to evaluate the protective effects of feeding reduced glutathione (GSH) against hepatic dysfunctions related to dietary aflatoxicosis in Inshas chickens (a local Egyptian chicken strain). 5 ppm of GSH were used with 500 ppm of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) /kg diet administrated. In total, 96 chickens were divided into 4 treatments with 3 replicates. T1 was the negative control. T2was the positive control group (AFB1). Groups T3 and T4 were administrated with GSH, and GSH+ AFB1, respectively. At the end of the experiment (28-38) wk of age, samples were collected for analysis. The results showed that AFB1 has significant potency for increasing aspartate transaminase (AST), creatinine in blood, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) in muscle , while reducing the plasma α-tocopherol content, antioxidants enzymes (glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and total antioxidant capacity) in blood of chicken. In addition, the negative effects of AFB1 on mRNA for antioxidant enzymes (GPX, SOD and CAT), hepatosomatic index (HSI), lipid peroxidation on birds aflatoxicosis were recorded in this study, also the efficacy of GSH for ameliorating aflatoxicosis were recorded. Moreover, these results showed that the ability of GSH when use with aflatoxicosis to counteract the toxic effects of AFB1 on chickens. Additionally, the GSH-Px (T3) were enhanced the antioxidative status. Finally, the optimal levels of GSH and method of used for detoxification of aflatoxin effects need more studies.