SELENIUM SOURCES AND SELENIUM LEVELS ON GROWTH PERFORMANCE AND MUSCLE QUALITY OF JUVENILE HYBRID CULTER “XIANFENG No. 1”

To investigate the effects of sodium selenite and selenium yeast supplementation on growth performance and muscle quality of juvenile hybrid culter “Xianfeng No. 1” (Erythroculter ilishaeformis × Ancherythroculter nigrocauda), a basal diet (C0) was supplemented with 0.3, 0.6, and 1.2 mg/kg selenium from sodium selenite (groups S1, S2, S3) or selenium yeast (groups Y1, Y2, Y3). A total of 420 juvenile hybrid F1 [initial body weight: (59.62±0.53) g] were randomly allocated into seven groups (three replicates per group) and fed experimental diets for 8 weeks. The results showed that the sodium selenite group S3 (1.2 mg/kg) and selenium yeast group Y2 (0.6 mg/kg) achieved the highest weight gain rate (WGR) and specific growth rate (SGR). Y2 exhibited significantly higher final body weight, WGR, and SGR compared to the control (C0) and S2 groups (PPP>0.05). Muscle elasticity, cohesiveness, and resilience increased with selenium levels (PPPPPPPP1 feed.