Effects of Selenium-Biofortified Maize and Soybean in Maternal and Lamb Diets on Tissue Selenium Deposition, Growth Performance, and Meat Quality in Lambs

This study examined tissue selenium (Se) deposition and muscle Se speciation in lambs receiving Se-biofortified maize and soybean through maternal and direct feeding. Thirty Merinolandschaf ewes (10 per group) received a control mixture containing inorganic Se (Group I; 0.298 mg/kg dry matter (DM)) or biofortified mixtures (Groups II and III; 0.312 and 0.476 mg/kg DM). Ewes received these diets during late gestation and lactation; their lambs suckled and had free access to the same mixtures from birth to slaughter (n = 8, 9, and 12, respectively). Individual tissue Se was determined by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP–MS), and speciation in pooled muscle by high-performance liquid chromatography–ICP–MS (HPLC–ICP–MS). Muscle Se was higher in Groups II and III than in Group I (0.692 and 0.742 vs. 0.329 mg/kg DM; p < 0.001). Heart and liver Se were also higher (p < 0.001). Growth, dressing percentage, and colour were unaffected; water-holding capacity tended to differ (p = 0.059). Selenomethionine predominated in pooled muscle, accounting for 32.4%, 51.2%, and 52.7% of total Se, respectively. Combined feeding was associated with higher tissue Se without significant changes in growth or measured meat quality. Maternal and direct dietary effects could not be separated.