Research Article | 10 Feb 2026

Dietary vitamin E and selenium supplementation improve hematological responses and productivity of growing goats consuming diluted seawater under tropical conditions

Nguyen Thiet1 , Nguyen Thanh Dat2, Nguyen Trong Ngu1 , Narongsak Chaiyabutr3,4 , and Sumpun Thammacharoen3 Show more
VETERINARY WORLD | pg no. 481-492 | Vol. 19, Issue 2 | DOI: 10.14202/vetworld.2026.481-492
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Abstract

          
Background and Aim: Saline water use in livestock production is increasingly common in coastal and delta regions due to freshwater scarcity, but prolonged intake may compromise productivity, physiological balance, and immune function in small ruminants. Excessive intake of sodium (Na) and chloride (Cl) can induce osmotic and oxidative stress, which may disrupt hematological homeostasis and growth performance. Antioxidant nutrients such as vitamin E (VitE) and selenium (Se) can enhance cellular protection and immune resilience under environmental stress. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of dietary VitE and Se supplementation on productivity, hematological responses, and selected biochemical parameters in growing goats consuming diluted seawater (DSW) under tropical conditions. 
Materials and Methods: Ten crossbred Boer male goats (6 months old; body weight [BW] 16.66 ± 0.52 kg) were allocated to a completely randomized design with two treatments and five replicates per group over a 5-week experimental period. Goats in the control group received no supplementation, whereas goats in the treatment group received a daily premix providing 60 mg VitE and 0.9 mg Se per head. All goats consumed fresh water during period 1 (P1), followed by 1% DSW during period 2 (P2) and 2% DSW during periods 3 and 4 (P3–P4), before returning to fresh water in period 5 (P5). Dry matter intake (DMI) and water intake (WI) were recorded daily, whereas BW, plasma electrolytes, liver and kidney function indicators, and hematological parameters were measured weekly. Data were analyzed using linear mixed-effects models including treatment, period, and their interaction. 
Results: DMI was not significantly affected by DSW concentration or VitE–Se supplementation. WI increased at 1% DSW but declined at 2% DSW, with the supplemented group maintaining higher WI than the control group. BW change decreased in the control group during exposure to 2% DSW, whereas BW remained stable in the supplemented group. DSW increased plasma Na and Cl concentrations and elevated liver enzyme activities, while supplementation attenuated Cl accumulation and moderated Na elevation. Hematological analysis indicated greater leukocyte responses in the control group as DSW salinity increased, whereas the supplemented group maintained more stable hematological profiles. Renal and hepatic indicators remained within physiological reference ranges in both groups. 
Conclusion: Dietary VitE and Se supplementation mitigated DSW-associated hematological disturbances and supported WI and BW maintenance in growing goats, suggesting a practical nutritional strategy for saline water–affected production systems.
          
Keywords: antioxidant supplementation, body weight, diluted seawater, goats, hematological responses, saline water, selenium, vitamin E.