Effects of Dietary Selenium Nanoparticle Supplementation of a Low-Selenium Basal Diet on Nutrient Digestibility, Hemato-Biochemical Indices, Reproductive and Lactational Performance of Ossimi Sheep

Thirty Ossimi ewes and twelve Ossimi rams were used to evaluate the effects of supplementing a low-selenium (Se) basal diet with Se nanoparticles (Se-NP) on nutrient digestibility, hemato-biochemical indices, and reproductive-lactational performance. Ewes and rams were randomly allocated to two groups: a control group fed the basal diet (estimated Se content 0.005–0.014 mg/kg dry matter, DM) and a Se-NP group fed the same basal diet supplemented with 0.3 mg Se-NP/kg DM. Repeated measurements were analyzed with linear mixed models. In rams, dietary Se-NP increased (p < 0.001) ejaculate volume, sperm concentration, progressive motility, and serum testosterone levels compared with the control. In the Se-NP breeding group, the conception rate was numerically higher (93.3%) compared with 60.0% in the control group. Dietary Se-NP increased (p < 0.001) total antioxidant capacity, blood Se concentration, serum triiodothyronine (T3), the T3/thyroxine (T4) ratio, nutrient digestibility coefficients and nutritive values in both rams and ewes. Maternal Se-NP supplementation also increased (p < 0.001) milk yield, fat corrected milk, milk composition and daily yields of milk fat, protein, and lactose, as well as the birth weight, weaning weight and average daily gain of suckling lambs. Under the conditions of this study, Se-NP supplementation of a low-Se diet during the breeding period was associated with improved semen characteristics, lactational, and digestive performance; because ram and ewe supplementation were applied jointly within breeding groups and the sample size was limited, these findings should be confirmed in larger studies.