EFFECTS OF DIFFERENT PREPARATIONS CONTAINING SELENIUM AND VITAMIN-E ON SELENIUM STATUS AND REPRODUCTIVE-PERFORMANCE OF GOATS

Three different preparations containing Se and vitamin E were tested f or their effects on Se status and reproductive performance of goats. I n the area where nutritional muscular dystrophy (NMD) in lambs had bee n demonstrated previously 280 does (domestic Balkan goat, were divided into four gropus of 70. Experimental groups were treated twice (a mon th before insemination and three weeks before kidding) with Duphafral (s/c group B), Evitaselen (s/c, group C) or Muvisel (p/o, during 14 da ys, group D). The control group (group A) was untreated. During winter time does were kept together in a stable and fed bean strow and a dai ly supplement (500 - 600 g) of ground barley (home grown). During summ er the does browsed in the forest and received supplement of barley (2 00 g daily) twice per week. Blood GSH-Px activities of A, C and D grou ps were maintained approximately at the same (low) level during pregna ncy and lactation. During pregnancy and two weeks after kidding does o f group B had significantly higher enzyme activities. At the age of tw o weeks and three months, kids of all groups had higher enzyme activit ies than their dams. Kids in groups AA and DD at the age of two weeks had lower enzyme activities than kids in groups BB and CC, but at the age of three months kids of all groups had enzyme activities at the sa me level. The treated groups had a slightly higher percentage of kidde d goats, number of kids born, number of kids born per goat (except gro up C), percent of goats with twins (except group C), and a lower male/ female ratio. Up to the age of three months 6.06% of NMD was registere d only in the control group.