Response to injectable selenium and vitamin E on reproductive performance of sows receiving a standard commercial diet

Thirty-one purebred Landrace sows were allocated to one of three experimental groups to determine the nutritional significance of parenteral injection of 3 mg selenium (Se) plus 408 IU of vitamin E as d-alpha-tocopherol. The three treatment groups consisted of (1) a control (no injection); (2) supplementation at 30, 60 and 100 d of gestation; and (3) supplementation at weaning of previous litter or approximately 1 wk prior to artificial insemination (AI) and at 30, 60 and 100 d of gestation. All sows were fed 2.5 kg d −1 (0.1 ppm Se and 15 IU vitamin E kg −1 diet) during gestation and ad libitum during a lactation period of 3 wk. Treatment did not affect (P > 0.05) weight changes of sows. The blood Se and vitamin A levels were not affected by treatment. Plasma glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activity was kept within a narrow range except at 100 d of gestation when activity was significantly different for treatment 2 versus the control. Vitamin E levels of plasma were significantly (P