Interrelationships of Mercury, Selenium and Arsenic in Broiler Diets

In previous reports from the South Dakota Agricultural Experiment Station (A.S. Series 73-18, 74-19 and 75-37), the effects of methylmercury on growth, egg production and egg hatchability were documented for Leghorn-type hens. In these studies, methylmercury at levels up to 10 p.p.m. of the diet had no effect upon growth but reduced egg production, egg quality and hatchability. Selenium was shown to be partially effective in overcoming these detrimental effects of mercury. On the other hand, an arsenic-selenium interaction is known to exist and many of the environmental segments providing mercury also contain elevated levels of arsenic. Studies described below were conducted to determine the toxicity of 10 p.p.m. methylmercury for the more rapidly growing broiler-type chick and to determine the extent that nutritional interrelationships between mercury, selenium and arsenic may alter its toxicity and related tissue distribution patterns