Three experiments were carried out to determine the optimum selenium-vitamin E injection level to maintain acceptable blood selenium (Se) status of does and kids, as well as to determine the relation of that status to mortality rates in kids. In experiment 1, 238 goats were assigned to one of three groups during the mating period: A1-control, A2- 0.06mgSe+0.8IU vitE/kgBW and A3-0.125mgSe+1.7IU vitE/kgBW. No differences (P>.05) for fertility and prolificacy were observed among the groups. Blood Se concentration did not differ among Se-vit E groups and control group before injection, and both groups showed Se deficient condition. There was a trend (P<.05, 32%) to increase Se blood level 60 days post-treatment, but difference was not observed between A2 and control groups, while difference (P<.05; 103%) was observed between A1 and A2 groups vs high Se injection (A3 group). In experiment 2, 48 goats were divided into four groups: B1- control, B2- 0.125mgSe+1.7IU vitE/kgBW, B3- 0.25mgSe+3.4IU vitE/kgBW and B4- 0.31mgSe+4.2IU vitE/kgBW. The B4 group reached the highest concentration at the third month after injection (0.11 ppm), then started to decline after 100 days, reaching a value slightly higher than B2 and B3 on the 135th day of pregnancy. Results of B2 and B3 groups were slightly higher that those of B1 (P<0.05). In experiment 3, 194 kids (3 to 7 days postpartum) born from Se-deficient goats were used to compare the effectiveness of Se injection. They were divided into three groups: C1- control, C2- 0.3mgSe+4.2IU vit E/kg BW and C3- 0.6mgSe+8.4IU vit E/kg BW. C1 showed the highest percentage of mortality (60%) as compared to treated Se groups, that scored equal percentage of deaths (22% averaged). The concentration of Se in blood, on day 20th after the onset of the treatment rapidly increased, according with level of Se injection. The 0.3mgSe/kgBW Se injection increased the blood Se concentration in pregnant goats and it was effective to prevent white muscle disease lesions, besides enhancing the survival of kids until weaning.
goat; selenium; vitamin E; México
