Short-term alteration in voluntary feed intake after selenium supplementation in Angora goat kids

The objective of this study was to examine the effect of selenium (Se) supplementation on voluntary feed intake in Se-deficient Angora goat kids and its temporal relationship to alterations in the concentrations of thyroid hormones in plasma and the activity of glutathione peroxidase in serum. Angora goat kids were fed pelleted lucerne with a Se concentration of 20 mu g/kg of dry matter (DM) and treated orally with either Se (0.1 mg/kg of liveweight weekly, as sodium selenate) or deionised water. Supplementation with Se had no effect on DM intake measured over 21 days. Serum activity of glutathione peroxidase was increased by Day 1 of treatment (P < 0.001), plasma concentration of thyroxine was decreased by Day 21 of treatment (P < 0.01), and plasma concentration of triiodothyronine was unaffected by treatment. It is concluded that increased appetite is unlikely to be the primary mechanism involved in the response to Se supplementation in Angora goats.