A section of the yolk membrane was removed from each egg and stained. Eggs were also collected on the first and last day of the trial, and for three days in each week to determine if there were any changes to egg quality. This experiment showed that selenium supplementation increased the average number of sperm holes in the yolk layer. This may be the result of selenium improving the environment of the sperm storage tubules in the hen s oviduct, allowing sperm to live longer. Although past research indicated that selenium had an effect on egg quality this study found very little improvement.
Selenium seems to play an important role in the maintenance of fertility in laying hens.
Selenium supplementation could extend the life of the flock at higher production levels. Introduction Martin Zuidhof recently completed a major research project that addressed the relationship between on-farm management and contamination of broiler carcasses at the time of slaughter. Everyone in the broiler industry knows that the removal of feed and water from market-aged birds is standard practice. The objective of the practice is to empty the bird s gut enough to prevent the gut contents from spilling onto the carcass when it is processed. The feed withdrawal period includes the entire time a bird is off feed before it is processed time in the barn, in transit, and waiting at the plant.