EFFECT OF SELENIUM AND VITAMIN E SUPPLEMENTATION ON NUTRIENT DIGESTIBILITY, METABOLIC PROFILE, ANTIOXIDANT STATUS, AND IMMUNE RESPONSE IN PRE-PARTUM CROSSBRED COWS

Abstract

The late-gestation transition period in dairy cattle is characterized by metabolic stress, oxidative damage, and immunosuppression. This study evaluated the effect of dietary Selenium (0.3 mg/kg dry matter) and Vitamin E (1000 IU/cow/day) during a 45-day pre-partum trial (Day -45 to calving) on nutrient utilization, metabolic hormones, antioxidant capacity, and immune status in crossbred Vrindavani cows. Twelve late-pregnant cows were allocated to an supplemented Control group (CON, n = 6) or a Selenium + Vitamin E group (SEL, n = 6) in a Completely Randomized Design. Voluntary dry matter intake was similar between groups (7.37 kg/d in CON vs. 7.49 kg/d in SEL; P > 0.05). However, SEL cows exhibited significantly higher apparent digestibility of dry matter (63.65 % vs. 59.29 %; P = 0.004), crude protein (62.54 % vs. 57.89 %; P = 0.001), and neutral detergent fibre (51.09 % vs. 47.01 %; P < 0.001). Supplementation reduced non-esterified fatty acids (P = 0.001) while elevating serum triiodothyronine (3.07 vs. 2.87 ng/mL; P = 0.053) and insulin-like growth factor-1 (53.81 vs. 52.41 ng/mL; P < 0.001). At calving, SEL cows demonstrated lower lipid peroxidation (3.87 ± vs. 4.29 nmol MDA/30 min; P < 0.001), greater total antioxidant capacity (63.80 % vs. 59.19 %; P < 0.001), and higher immunoglobulin G (29.64 ± 2.39 vs. 28.05 ± 2.24 µg/mL; P = 0.002) and interleukin-2 (60.12 vs. 55.29 pg/mL; P = 0.015). Strategic pre-partum Selenium and Vitamin E supplementation enhances nutrient digestibility, mitigates oxidative stress, and improves endocrine and immunological status in transition Vrindavani cows.