The aim of this study was to assess how dietary supplementation of organic selenium
affected carcass and meat quality, tissue selenium content and glutathione peroxidase
activity in ducks. The study was performed on 240 one-day old ducklings of the same origin
(Cherry Valley hybrid), during a 49-day period, that were fed diets supplemented with
four different levels of selenium yeast (ALKOSEL® R397): groups with 0 mg/kg, 0.2 mg/kg,
0.4 mg/kg and 0.6 mg/kg added Se. Live weight, carcass characteristics, meat quality characteristics,
chemical composition of meat, selenium content in plasma, feces, liver and meat,
as well as plasma glutathione peroxidase activity were determined. Animals fed high Se
diets (0.4 mg/kg) had higher live weight (P < 0.05) compared to those fed diets with inadequate
(0 mg/kg) or with supranutritional (0.6 mg/kg) Se levels. Chemical analysis of meat
revealed differences in moisture, protein and lipid content among compared groups. Breast
meat from the group with the highest dietary Se (0.6 mg/kg) had a higher protein content
(P < 0.01) compared to breast meat from groups with 0 mg/kg and 0.2 mg/kg added Se. Se
supplementation increased significantly Se levels in plasma, liver and muscles, as well as
activity of glutathione peroxidase in plasma