The Effect of Selenium and Vitamin E on Growth and Energy Linked Biochemical Profile of Damani Goat under Heat Stress

Nurturing goat is a traditional profession of marginal farmers and landless workers in different regions of under-developed countries. The present study was conducted to determine the effect of vitamin E and selenium (Se) on physiological and hormonal status of Damani goat in Dera Ismail Khan, under high ambient temperature. Forty Damani healthy, non-pregnant goats having similar initial body weight were selected. The diets of goats in the treated groups were supplemented with Se (0.3 mg/Kg) and vitamin E (50 mg/Kg) for 4 weeks. Twenty non-Damani local goats were as control and were not supplemented with Se and vitamin E in diet. It was observed that the mean values of TSH, T3 and T4 were significantly higher in control than experimental Damani breed. Similarly, the mean values of cortisol were comparatively higher in control breed than Damani experimental group, showing that Damani breed was more prone to heat stress conditions than control group and that oxidative stress, induced by heat stress, may have a negative effect on the availability of Se, which accordingly resulted in reduced synthesis of thyroid hormones. Beside that the concentrations of total protein, cholesterol, albumin and glucose were found significantly higher in Damani breed than control group, indicating that Damani breed had comparatively better adaptive capabilities in preparing the internal physiology and metabolic processes in response to heat-stress environmental conditions. Hence, vitamin E, in combination with Se improved the physiological and biochemical profile of blood in Damani goat.