Influence of organic vs inorganic source and different dietary levels of selenium supplementation in diets for growing pigs on meat quality

Selenium consumption in Poland is low, less than the required amount of Se for adults. The deficiency of Se may lead to many diseases. Food enriched with selenium can improve the Se status in humans. The supplementation of animal diets with selenium to may increase the selenium content in meat products. The aim of this experiment was to determine the effect of different selenium forms (organic vs inorganic) and dietary levels (0.3 or 0.5 mg kg-1) on pork quality. An experiment with 45 crossbred fatteners (Polish Large White × Polish Landrace × Duroc) was conducted to determine the effect of a selenium source (organic – selenized yeast Sel-Plex vs inorganic – sodium selenite) and its dietary level on pork quality. Pigs were fed diets supplemented with 0.3 or 0.5 mg Se kg-1 of diet for 42 days (the second fattening period). After slaughter, meat quality parameters: pH45, pH24, drip loss, WHC, chemical composition, colour and Se concentration in m. longissimus lumborum, were estimated. There were significant differences in the pH24 value but the meat had no quality defects. Dietary addition of Se caused a significant (P ≤ 0.01) increase in the ash content of m. longissimus lumborum. The Se form had no significant effect on drip loss or water holding capacity. The higher level of supplemental Se (0.5 mg kg-1 diet) improved the lightness of meat, which was darker in colour. The Se concentration in m. longissimus lumborum was found to increase significantly (P ≤ 0.01) when organic selenium was added at 0.5 mg kg-1 in the second fattening period. The addition of inorganic (0.5 mg) as well as organic selenium (selenized yeast Sel-Plex) to diets for growing pigs had a beneficial effect on the colour of meat, which then became more appealing to consumers, but had no significant effect on drip loss and water holding capacity. Supplementing pig diets with the organic form of selenium (Sel-Plex), compared to the inorganic form, increased the Se concentration in pork meat.