cjs-201107-0003 ArticleInAPeriodical 2011 Czech Journal of Animal Science 56 7 305-313 WangY.X. ZhanX.A. YuanD. ZhangX.W. WuR.J. Effects of selenomethionine and sodium selenite supplementation on meat quality, selenium distribution and antioxidant status in broilers This study was conducted to investigate the effects of selenomethionine (Se-Met) and sodium selenite (SS) supplementation on meat quality, selenium (Se) distribution, and antioxidant status in broilers. A total of 360 seven-days-old Ross 308 broilers of an average body weight 162 ± 0.59 g were randomly allotted to three treatments, each of which included three replications of 40 birds. The treatments included a control diet containing 0.04 mg Se/kg and other two diets that contained 0.15 mg Se/kg supplemented by SS or Se-Met. The experiment lasted for 42 days. Selenium supplementation improved (P < 0.05) the Hunter a value of breast muscle in 8 and 16 h and decreased (P < 0.05) the drip loss of breast muscle in 24 and 48 h. Both Se sources and exposed time significantly influenced (P < 0.01) the drip loss of breast muscle. Selenium and glutathione concentrations in serum and in the studied organs were significantly higher (P < 0.05) after dietary Se supplementation while the Se-Met group showed the highest value (P < 0.05). Glutathione peroxidase activity in serum and in the studied organs was also significantly elevated (P < 0.05) by dietary Se supplementation while SS increased the glutathione peroxidase activities in pancreas and breast muscle to a larger extent (P < 0.05) than did Se-Met. The addition of Se from either source caused a significant increase (P < 0.05) in superoxide dismutase activities in tissues (except for kidney) whereas the Se-Met group was more effective (P < 0.05) than the SS group in breast muscle. Selenium supplementation increased (P < 0.05) the total antioxidant capability in serum, liver, kidney and breast muscle while the Se-Met group proved to be more effective (P < 0.05) than the SS group except for kidney. The Se-supplemented diets had a lower (P < 0.05) malondialdehyde concentration in serum and in the studied organs but the effect was more pronounced (P < 0.05) when Se-Met was used except for the serum. These results indicated that Se-Met supplementation was more effective than SS supplementation for depositing Se in serum and tissues, enhancing the antioxidant status and reducing the drip loss of breast muscle.