Abstract
ObjectiveA meta-analysis was conducted to assess the effects of dietary chromium picolinate (CrPic) supplementation on broiler growth performance and to determine whether such effects are regulated by broiler strains, sex, environmental stress, or contextual factors including study area and years.MethodsEligible studies were identified by searching the Web of Science, Springer, Elsevier, ScienceDirect, Taylor & Francis Online databases. Weighted average differences with corresponding 95% confidence intervals were computed with a random-effects model. We performed subgroup analysis stratified by study area, published years, broiler strains and sex, and environmental stress. Publication bias was assessed with Egger’s test method. A total of 15 studies eligible for inclusion.ResultsThe results indicated that CrPic supplementation significantly improved broiler growth performance and subgroup analysis confirmed this conclusion. We also found that Ross 308 or male broilers might be more sensitive to CrPic supplementation and showed better growth performance. A model was used to obtain the amount of chromium addition under the optimal growth performance, which suggested that the maximum value of average daily gain (ADG) was reached when chromium addition was 1810 μg/kg. The results of the sensitivity analysis showed low sensitivity and high stability of the meta-analysis.ConclusionsCrPic supplementation had a positive effect on the growth performance of broilers, and this meta-analysis provides a more accurate value of chromium addition, which may be beneficial for the practice of the broiler industry.
Highlights
Glucose metabolism in birds differs considerably from mammals as birds maintain higher blood glucose concentrations and lower insulin levels than other vertebrates of similar body mass [1]
The results indicated that chromium picolinate (CrPic) supplementation significantly improved broiler growth performance and subgroup analysis confirmed this conclusion
We found that Ross 308 or male broilers might be more sensitive to CrPic supplementation and showed better growth performance
Summary
Glucose metabolism in birds differs considerably from mammals as birds maintain higher blood glucose concentrations and lower insulin levels than other vertebrates of similar body mass [1]. Chromium usually exists in the form of inorganic compounds or organic complexes [4]. Usually found as Cr-picolinate, Cr-methionine, Cr-nicotinic acid complex, and Cr-yeast is considered to have higher bioavailability and absorption rates than inorganic chromium [7, 8]. Inorganic chromium’s bioavailability is between 1% and 3% while organic chromium can be up to 15% to 30% [9]. This can be explained by the chelation of the mineral with organic acids, amino acids, peptides or other compounds [4]. In the United States, Food and Drug Administration (FDA) permission or approval is required for any chromium source to be supplemented to animal diets [10]. The Standardization Administration of China has no regulations on chromium supplementation in the latest national standards of formula feeds for layers and broilers [13]
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