The use of selenium-enriched alga Scenedesmus quadricauda in a chicken diet

The selenium-enriched Scenedesmus biomass of patented selenium-resistant strain SeIV was tested in a broiler chicken diet in comparison with sodium selenite supplementation. Feed conversion, mortality and live weight were not significantly influenced by the source of selenium. Supplementation of either form of selenium significantly increased the Se concentration in breast muscle with a more pronounced effect (P < 0.001) caused by selenium enriched Scenedesmus (635 μg/kg DM, 229 μg/kg DM in control). Breast meat of chickens fed a diet with sodium selenite or Se-Scenedesmus had a significantly (P < 0.001) higher value of glutathione peroxidase activity (0.329 μmol/g, 0.361 μmol/g) compared to the basal diet (0.190 μmol/g). The inclusion of Se-Scenedesmus biomass in the diet enhanced (P = 0.021) oxidative stability of meat expressed as reduced malondialdehyde in breast meat after 10-day cooler storage. Se-enriched Scenedesmus can be a good source of organic selenium for the production of Se-enriched chicken meat for further use in human diets. Furthermore, the Se-resistant strain SeIV was found advantageous for its fast and easy production of Se-enriched biomass.