Selenium Utilization from Menhaden Fish Meal as Affected by Processing

Two experiments were conducted to determine if the process used for making menhaden fish meal affected selenium (Se) utilization. One fish meal was made by grinding menhaden fish and then lyophilizing the resulting product (LFM). A second fish meal sample was prepared from the same catch of fish using commercial conditions (CFM). The fish meals were included in a low Se chick diet to provide .03 ppm Se. The LFM was comparable to selenite Se and was significantly better at preventing exudative diathesis in chicks than CFM was. The LFM and CMF were also included in a layer diet to provide .1 ppm Se. Yolks from eggs laid by hens fed LFM contained significantly more Se than yolks from hens fed CFM. The results show that the commercial preparation of fish meal significantly decreases the utilization of Se.