Chromium as a tool against

heat stress
A study in India by SUDIPTO HALDAR and TAPAN K.
GHOSH* indicates that supplementation of chromium in the
form of chromium picolinate may be an effective tool for
alleviating heat stress in nutritionally restricted
broiler chickens.
Sudipto Haldar Tapan K.Ghosh

R educing stress in poultry

remains a topic of concern amongst
Figure 1: Live weight (kg), live weight gain and FCR.

producers and scientists. An Significant improvement in performance in birds receiving 0.5mg supplement Cr
2.5
increased concentration of glucose Control 0.5mg Cr 1.0mg Cr
in blood and a decreased protein
level are associated with stress 2.0
induction along with an increase in
circulatory cortisol level. A 1.5
temperature >30oC represents a
heat-stressed condition for birds and
1.0
is one of the most common
stressors that affect the production
criteria in poultry in the Indian 0.5 1.5 1.8 1.6 1.5 1.7 1.6 2.0 1.7 1.9
subcontinent. Methods to alleviate
the effect of heat stress focus on 0.0
manipulating the diet. Trivalent Liveweight Liveweight gain FCR
chromium (Cr3+) may be used as a
tool to handle such stress situation. Figure 2: Live weight gain at different age intervals.
Recommendation with regards to
1,000
the exact inclusion level of Cr in
869g
diet is not yet available. Control
The maximum benefit of
Chromium picolinate is perhaps 800 0.5mg Cr
Cr supplementation was
704g
the most widely explored compound 1.0mg Cr observed during the
finisher stage
in research work conducted on Cr. 600
By virtue of a different absorptive 623g
pathway, Cr picolinate is more bio-
400
effective than inorganic compounds
like Cr chloride. The present
experiment was conducted to assess 200
the efficacy of Cr picolinate as a
dietary supplement for heat-stressed 0
broiler chickens. D10 D20 D30 D40

Bird husbandry and dietary

treatments
Cobb 400 broiler chickens (n =
225), obtained 12 h post hatch
from a local hatchery, were
supplemented with 0 (control), 0.5
mg and 1.0 mg Cr/kg (as
Chromium picolinate) from 10 to
40 days of age. A flock of 15 chicks
was slaughtered on day 1 for
assessing the blood metabolite
profile and carcass traits at the pre-
experimental stage. The birds were
placed in pens (1.5 m x 1.5 m) on
litter floors. The pens, each housing
10 birds, were the replicates and
there were 7 replicates in each
treatment group. The birds were fed
a basal starter diet till day 10 and
Cr was supplemented to the diet as
Cr picolinate from day 11 onwards.
The starter diet was fed to day 30
and a finisher diet for the remaining
period (see Table 1 for diet
composition). Temperature inside
the experimental room was kept at
35-36˚C throughout the
experimental period to put the birds
under a moderately heat stressed
condition which was evidenced by

2 ASIAN POULTRY MAGAZINE – March 2008

 Figure 3: Yield (g) of dressed carcass, breast and legs.
Cr improved carcas yield
1,200
Control 0.5mg Cr 1.0mg Cr

800

panting and dispersed distribution

of the birds within the pens. 400
However, no mortality was recorded
during the study
833 985 889 259 324 266 295 335 314
Blood was collected on day 1
during the initial slaughter and on 0
day 40 prior to the final slaughter. Dressed carcass Breast Leg
Birds were fed ad-libitum during the
starter phase (d 1-30) but physical terms of live weight gain per unit that dietary Cr supplementation
feed restriction was imposed during protein consumed and the protein improves the performance and
the finisher (d 31-40) phase. Gross conversion efficiency expressed in carcass traits of the broiler chickens
carcass traits including the carcass terms of protein intake for each and the effects were perhaps
yield was determined. Meat was unit of protein accretion was mediated through a reduction in
analyzed for ash, protein and fat in calculated. the circulatory cortisol level.
the carcass obtained on days 1 and Cr supplementation improved all
Benefits of Chromium
40 and the total accretion of the the performance and carcass related
supplementation
said nutrients was calculated. The traits studied. The dose level of 0.5
efficiency of protein utilization in The results of this trial indicates mg Cr/kg diet showed superior
effects compared to the higher dose
Table 1: Ingredients and chemical composition of the basal diet. level of 1.0 mg Cr/kg diet. Both
Ingredients Starter Grower
final live weight and total live
weight gain in 40 days improved
Corn 580 620 (P<0.05) due to Cr supplementation
Soybean meal 46 350 322 (Figure 1). Consequently the feed
Sunflower cake 24 – conversion efficiency (FCR) also
Fat 30 40 improved with Cr supplementation
Salt 1.47 1.47 (P<0.05).
Dicalcium Phosphate 8.8 9.5 Table 2 highlights the rather large
Lysine sulfate 0.3 1.6 performance and carcass responses
DL Methionine 0.8 1.3 to the 0.5 mg/kg Cr
Trace mineralsa 1.5 1 supplementation.
Maduramycin 0.5 0.5 Live weight gain was similar
Enzymes 0.26 0.26
Ascorbic acid 0.1 0.1 Figure 4: Protein ultilization and
Toxin binder 1 1 conversion efficiency.
Organic acids 1 1
3
Vitamins 0.27 0.27
Control
Total, kg 1000 1000 0.5mg Cr
1.0mg Cr
Nutrients, DM basis

Proteinb, % 21.0 19.4 2

MEc, Kcal/kg 3083 3203
Lysinec, % 1.3 1.2
Methioninec, % 0.5 0.5
M+Cc, % 0.73 0.68
Calciumb, % 0.35 0.42
Available Pc, % 0.31 0.37 1

Chromiumb, mg 0.18 0.20

a Contained (per kg) manganese 40 mg, iron, 30 mg, zinc 25 mg, copper 3.5 mg, iodine 0.3
mg, selenium 0.15 mg, choline chloride 200 mg
b estimated in laboratory
c calculated values 0
Gain:Intake Intake:Accretion

ASIAN POULTRY MAGAZINE – March 2008 1

 Table 2: Summary of performance and carcass responses to 0.5 mg/kg Cr.

Treatment Control + 0.5 mg/kg Cr Change (%)

Liveweight, 40 d, g 1415b 1755a +16

Liveweight gain, 1-40 d, g 1472b 1714a +16.4
FCR, 1-40 d 2.01b 1.73a +14
Liveweight gain, 31-40 d,
Grams 623b 869a +39
Grams/day 62.3b 86.9a +39

FCR, 31-40 d 2.21b 1.65a +25.3

Carcass yield, g 833b 985a +18 efficiency (Table 3).

Breast, g 259b
Legs, g 295b
Carcass yield, %
ab P< 0.05
across the dietary treatments during
the starter phase (1-30 days of age)
and hence the utilization efficiency
for energy and protein also did not
differ due to Cr supplementation
during this stage. However, their
response changed during the
finisher stage (31-40 days of age)
(Figure 2). Birds receiving Cr
supplementation gained more
(P<0.05) body weight during the
age interval of 31-40 days
compared to the control group. As
a result, the efficiency of energy
and protein utilization also
improved (P<0.05) during that
phase (Table 3). This is important
as it was during this stage of
growth when physical feed
restriction was imposed.
This study, therefore, indicates
that supplementation of Cr
picolinate may help the birds in
325a +25 Measurement of serum
335a +30.5 metabolites revealed a decline
60 62 +3.3 (P<0.05) in circulatory protein
concentration in chickens receiving
dietary Cr supplementation. This
may be due to enhanced utilization
improving nutrient utilisation. of absorbed protein for conversion
Hot carcass weight and into tissue protein. The lower
eviscerated carcass weight improved
(P<0.05) due to Cr supplementation Figure 5a: Circulatory serum protein
and the effects were greater in birds (g I-1) and glucose (mmol L-1) level.
receiving 0.5 mg Cr/kg. Weight of
the whole breast increased
Control
(P<0.05) and those of the frame 40 0.5mg Cr
and the legs tended to increase
1.0mg Cr
(P<0.1) when Cr was
supplemented.
Fat content of the meat decreased 30
(P<0.05) while protein accretion
increased (P<0.05) due to Cr
supplementation. Hence, Cr 41.1
35.8
38.2
20
picolinate was effective in reducing
carcass fat and increasing lean
meat production. The efficiency of
protein conversion to meat protein
10
also improved due to Cr
supplementation with the birds
8.9
7.9
9.2
receiving 0.5 mg supplemental Cr
showing significantly higher 0
Protein g/L Glucose mmol/L

Table 3: Chemical composition, nutrient accretion (g/kg fresh weight) and

efficiency of protein conversion in broiler chickens supplemented with graded Figure 5c: Circulatory cortisol
doses of Cr. concentrations (mmol L-1)

Chromium, mg/kg diet Pooled

Measurement 0 0.5 1.0 SE Significance

Moisture 712 724 724 1.3 ** 1200

Ash 120.2 119.9 120.2 3.17 NS
Crude protein 21.6 22.7 21.9 0.37 NS
Ether extract 7.4 6.3 6.5 0.25 **
Protein accretion 317.5 389.1 344.5 8.79 *
Fat accretion 109.9 107.1 100.9 3.95 NS
Ash accretion 175.9 204.8 188.6 6.69 NS
1100
Protein intake g: 1.85 1.52 1.74 0.04 **
1232.1 mmol/L

1116.9 mmol/L

1103.5 mmol/L

Protein accretion g
(1-40 days)
Each treatment group consisted of 7 replicates of 10 Cobb 400 unsexed broiler chickens with
a mean live weight of 41.4±0.23 g at 12 h post hatch. Slaughter was performed after 40
days feeding trial by taking 2 birds at random from all the 7 replicates under each treatment
1000
group. The data were pooled replicate wise for calculation and statistical analyses. Control 0.5mg Cr 1.0mg Cr

2 ASIAN POULTRY MAGAZINE – March 2008

 Figure 5b: Circulatory serum cholesterol and
tryacylglycerol (mmol L-1)

Control
40 0.5mg Cr
1.0mg Cr

30

20

10

0
Cholesterol Triacylglycerol
mmol/L mmol/L

(P<0.05) circulatory glucose concentration in the Cr

supplemented birds suggests an increased turnover rate
and utilization of glucose at the tissue level. The higher
glucose level in the control group of birds may be due
to the heat stress the birds encountered during the
experiment and the results, therefore, further bolstered
the stress alleviating effects of supplemental Cr (Figure
5a).
The most intriguing aspect of the present study was
the circulatory lipid lowering effect of Cr (Table 5b).
Relative to the control group, the serum cholesterol and
tryacylglycerol concentrations were lower (P<0.05)
when 0.5 mg Cr was supplemented in the diet.
These above findings may be explained by the
circulatory cortisol level (Figure 5c) which was reduced
when the birds received supplemental Cr (P<0.05).
However, it is difficult to explain the lack of linearity in
dose response. It has been reported earlier that like
many other trace elements, Cr may also have a “zone of
biological action” and elicits significant response only up
to a certain dose level beyond which no beneficial effect
of supplementation could be obtained.
The present study, therefore, indicated that
supplementation of Cr in the form of Cr picolinate may
be an effective tool for alleviating heat stress in
nutritionally restricted broiler chickens. The effects are
mediated via a cortsol lowering effect of Cr which shifts
the balance more towards anabolism leading to a
greater nutrient utilization efficiency and production of
lean meat.
Inclusion of 0.5 mg Cr as chromium picolinate per kg
diet may be recommended as an innovative and efficient
feeding management tool for a better return from
broilers. I

* Dr Sudipto Haldar (sudipto.haldar@rediffmail.com) PhD, is Senior Lecturer

and Dr Tapan K Ghosh, PhD, FANAI, is Professor and Head, Department of
Animal Nutrition, Faculty of Veterinary & Animal Sciences, West Bengal
University of Animal & Fishery Sciences, Kolkata, India. A list of references is
available from the senior author.

ASIAN POULTRY MAGAZINE – March 2008 1