Why L-selenomethionine matters in broiler breeders and chick performance

Jolien van Soest – Global Solution Manager – Mineral Nutrition

Producers are under pressure to deliver more chicks, better chick quality, and more predictable broiler performance. Optimizing performance of broiler breeders and ensuring a good life-start of their broiler offspring is a multi-factorial issue, involving genetics, management and nutrition. One of the solutions lies in optimal trace mineral nutrition, where selenium has been shown to play an important role. In two university collaborations, organic selenium (L-selenomethionine) was associated with improved breeder reproductive performance and with better growth performance in the progeny resulting in an improved EPEF.

Selenium (Se), via incorporation into selenoproteins, is involved in many biological processes, including fertility and immune functioning. When considering selenium sources in the diet, a differentiation can be made between L-selenomethionine and all other forms of selenium as L-selenomethionine is the only form that can be directly incorporated into animal proteins (Figure 1). This way, it contributes to a safe deposit of selenium inside the animals’ body, which becomes available during the natural protein turnover, thereby always ensuring a continuous selenium supply.

At the same time, L-selenomethionine can be transferred to the egg, increasing the selenium status of the day-old chick upon hatching, which contributes to a strong and healthy start early in life

Figure 1: Metabolism of selenium

A recent trial in collaboration with the University of Lavras in Brazil, showed the importance of L-selenomethionine (Excential Selenium 4000, Orffa Additives BV) in improving reproductive performance of both male and female breeders, by significantly increasing egg production, fertility and hatchability, as well as sperm motility and viability. Feeding L-selenomethionine compared to sodium selenite in female breeders translated into higher selenium deposition in the eggs and day-old chicks (muscle and liver). In turn, this better selenium status of the day-old chick also resulted in a better antioxidant status, which was reflected by the increased values of glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase, catalase and superoxide dismutase. Overall, this trial highlighted the value of L-selenomethionine in breeder diets.

The importance of L-selenomethionine for improved performance of the broiler offspring was also highlighted in a trial at the National University of Lujan (Argentina).

Investigated the impact of L-selenomethionine (Excential Selenium 4000, Orffa Additives BV) versus inorganic sodium selenite in broiler breeder diets. Breeders received either selenium source at 0.3 ppm selenium for a ten-week feeding trial, after which eggs were collected and 180 chicks per treatment were further subdivided over four groups, for a 42-day grow-out:

• Broiler chicks originating from L-selenomethionine breeders

  • Org/org: Control diet + L-selenomethionine (0.3 ppm Se)

  • Org/inorg: Control diet + sodium selenite (0.3 ppm Se)

• Broiler chicks originating from sodium selenite breeders

  • Inorg/org: Control diet + L-selenomethionine (0.3 ppm Se)

  • Inorg/inorg: Control diet + sodium selenite (0.3 ppm Se)

The study showed that offspring from breeders supplemented with L-selenomethionine, especially those also receiving organic selenium post‑hatch, achieved higher body weights from day 35 onward (figure 2) and demonstrated improved meat quality through significantly reduced drip loss, highlighting the maternal and direct performance benefits of L-selenomethionine.

By calculating the potential impact for producers, the European Production Efficiency Factor (EPEF) was used, a factor that takes into account the body weight, feed conversion ratio and survival.

For the progeny receiving L-selenomethionine, the EPEF was highest (462 and 432 for org/org and inorg/org respectively). For progeny receiving sodium selenite, the maternal L-selenomethionine allowed for a higher production efficiency of 418, while inorg/inorg had the lowest efficiency of 408. Based on these results, it can be stated that the source of selenium that is fed to the breeders, has an important effect on the final production performance of the broiler progeny.

Figure 2: Body weight (g) of broiler supplemented with different selenium sources

Other trial work, focusing more on the application of L-selenomethionine in broilers, further describes the benefits during heat stress and for improving met quality (colour, tenderness, drip loss).

The combined evidence from breeder and offspring studies demonstrates that L‑selenomethionine is a highly effective selenium source for improving both reproductive outcomes in broiler breeders and performance in their progeny. By ensuring improved selenium deposition and antioxidant status, L‑selenomethionine supports stronger chicks, better growth, and improved meat quality. Together, these findings highlight its value as a strategic nutritional choice for producers aiming to optimize breeder efficiency and deliver robust, high‑performing broilers.