EFFECT OF DIETARY HYDROXY-SELENO-METHIONINE ON FEED PERFORMANCE, SERUM BIOCHEMICAL INDICES, AND ANTIOXIDANT ABILITY IN WHITE SHRIMP  Penaeus vannamei FED LOW- OR HIGH-LEVEL FISH MEAL DIETS.

Selenium is a life-essential component of selenoproteins such as Glutathione peroxidase, a critical weapon in the biological antioxidant arsenal providing optimum immuno-protection and resistance to oxidative stress.  P. vannamei is prone to devastating disease outbreaks aggravated by stress.  This study looked at the effect of graded levels of hydroxyl-seleno-methionine (OH-Se-Met), a safe, highly stable and bio-available form of organic Selenium, on feed performance parameters with 2 fishmeal inclusion levels, as well as Selenium levels in the muscle, and serum and hepatopancreas antioxidant status.

P. vannamei shrimp were allocated 10 diets: 2 fish meal inclusion levels, 15% and 30%, to which 5 levels of organic Selenium (0, 0.15, 0.3, 0.6, and 0.9 ppm) were added.  They were divided at the rate of 50 shrimp per tank in a recirculating water system, and fed the test diets for 8 weeks.

Selenium and Fish meal levels had both a significant effect on shrimp growth.   0.3 ppm organic Selenium gave the best growth performance for both fish meal levels and best PER at 15% fish meal inclusion.