Effects of different sources and levels of dietary chromium supplementation on performance of broiler chicks.

Abstract

The current experiment was carried out to evaluate the effect of different dietary chromium supplementation sources, chromium oxide (Cr2 O3 ), chromium methionine (Cr-Met), or chromium yeast (Cr-yeast), at different levels each (500 or 1,000ppb) on growth performance, physiological traits, and carcass characteristics of broiler chicks. A total of 490 seven-day-old Arbor Acres chicks were randomly distributed into 7 experimental groups each in 10 replicates of 7 birds each. The groups were control, 500ppb Cr2 O3 , 1,000ppb Cr2 O3 , 500ppb Cr-Met, 1,000ppb Cr-Met, 500ppb Cr-yeast, and 1,000ppb Cr-yeast. The results showed significant superiority of the organic chromium sources (Cr-Met or Cr-yeast) concerning body weight and weight gain, the group supplemented with 1,000ppb Cr-yeast consumed the lowest feed (3,185g) and had the best feed conversion ratio (1.60) compared to the control (1.73). The chromium treatments recorded significantly better protein and lipid profile, antioxidant status, and immunological parameters than the control group. Similarly, dietary chromium supplementation increased carcass yield and decreased intestinal pathogenic bacteria. In conclusion, supplementing broiler diets with organic chromium sources at 1,000ppb promotes growth performance, physiological traits, and carcass characteristics; such chromium treatments enhanced the antioxidant status and immunity levels of broilers.