Effects of arsanilic acid and vitamin E upon utilization of natural or supplemental selenium by swine.

One feeding trial and two balance studies were conducted to study the effects of adding arsanilic acid or vitamin E (E) upon utilization of natural or supplemental selenium (Se) (from sodium selenite) in the diet. Eighty weanling pigs were assigned at random to eight dietary treatments in a 23 factorial design. The basal corn-soybean meal diet (containing .036 ppm Se and 6 IU E/kg) was fed alone or supplemented with .1 ppm Se (as sodium selenite) and/or 22 IU E per kilogram of diet and/or 99 ppm arsanilic acid. Selenium supplements were withdrawn 60 days, and arsanilic acid supplements 8 days, before slaughter. Selenium supplementation increased (P<.01) liver, kidney and diaphragm muscle Se concentrations, while arsanilic acid increased (P<.05) diaphragm muscle Se concentrations. Vitamin E supplements had no effect on tissue Se levels. The two balance studies concerned Se absorption and retention on low-Se diets supplemented with sodium selenite or seleniferous corn, arsanilic acid and E. A greater proport ion of Se from seleniferous corn was lost in the feces and less in the urine as compared to Se from sodium selenite. Vitamin E supplementation increased Se retention from seleniferous corn by decreasing urinary and fecal Se loss. Arsanilic acid