Effects of dietary selenium yeast supplementation on production performance, apparent nutrient digestibility, serum antioxidant parameters, and selenoprotein content in velvet antlers of sika deer (Cervus nippon)

Dietary supplementation with 0.3 mg/kg selenium yeast effectively improved nutrient digestibility and serum antioxidant capacity in sika deer. Furthermore, both 0.3 mg/kg and 1.2 mg/kg selenium yeast enhanced the synthesis of key selenoproteins (GPX4 and SELENOP) in velvet antlers. These findings provide a scientific basis for selenium nutrition strategies during the antler growth stage and support the development of selenium-enriched velvet antler products.