Research Note: Responses of growth performance, immune traits, and small intestinal morphology to dietary supplementation of chromium propionate in heat-stressed broilers

Abstract

This study was conducted to investigate the dose responses of growth performance, immune traits, and small intestinal morphology to dietary supplementation of chromium propionate ( CrPro ) in heat-stressed broilers. A total of 252 1-day-old Cobb 500 male broilers were randomly assigned to 6 treatments with 7 replicate cages of 6 birds per cage. The dietary treatments consisted of a basal diet supplemented with 0, 0.2, 0.4, 0.8, 1.6, and 3.2 mg/kg Cr in the form of CrPro. The birds had ad libitum access to feed and tap water for an experimental period of 42 D. For induction of heat stress, the house temperature was set at 35°C ± 2°C from 22 to 42 D of age. No differences were detected among treatments in growth performance during the experimental period ( P > 0.05). Serum IgA concentrations were not affected by treatment ( P > 0.05). However, a quadratic response was detected for serum IgG ( P < 0.01) and IgM ( P < 0.01) concentration as dietary Cr supplementation was increased. The highest response of IgG and IgM in serum was observed for broilers fed a diet supplemented with 0.2 mg of Cr/kg. Dietary supplementation of Cr had no impacts on villus height, crypt depth, or the ratio of villus height to crypt depth in the jejunum and ileum. A quadratic response of villus height and the ratio of villus height to crypt depth and a linear response of crypt depth to increased dietary Cr supplementation were observed in the duodenum ( P < 0.01). The results indicate that CrPro supplementation could modify the intestinal morphology of the duodenum and influence serum IgG and IgM concentrations in heat-stressed broiler chickens. Based on the results of this experiment, the 0.2-mg Cr/kg diet from CrPro increases immune response and intestinal health in heat-stressed broilers.

Effects of functional nutrients on chicken intestinal epithelial cells induced with oxidative stress

“…[ 29 ] described that VA increased TEER values and expression levels of OCLN , CLDN , and ZO-1 in Caco-2 cells treated with LPS. Huang et al [ 59 ] reported that dietary supplementations of Cr increased gut morphology such as villus height and villus height:crypt depth ratio in broiler chickens under heat stress conditions. Pardo and Seiquer [ 60 ] reported that supplementation of Zn in Caco-2 cells under heat stress conditions decreased intestinal permeability and increased TEER values.…”

Effects of different levels of organic chromium and selenomethionine cocktails in broilers

“…Antioxidant supplementation can protect enterocytes from apoptotic oxidative stress and improve intestinal morphology [ 45 ]. Huang et al [ 7 ] have reported that supplementation with chromium propionate in broiler diets can increase VH under heat stress conditions. However, the exact mechanism by which CS8 could improve growth performance of poultry is not clear.…”

“…Chromium (Cr) is known as a trace element that is present in feed at very small amounts. Although there is no requirement for Cr in poultry feed, many recent studies have determined effects of Cr on physiological, immunological, and growth performances of poultry [ 5 – 7 ]. Cr exists in its most stable trivalent form when supplemented with feed.…”

Chromium propionate supplementation to energy- and protein-reduced diets reduces feed consumption but improves feed conversion ratio of yellow-feathered male broilers in the early period and improves meat quality

“…Trivalent chromium ions ( Cr 3+ ), such as chromium yeast, chromium pyridine, chromium methionine, and chromium propionate, are commonly used in laboratory and farmed animals ( Kroliczewska et al, 2004 ) to investigate its effect. In several studies, organic Cr 3+ compounds have shown to improve the average daily gain ( ADG ) and FCR in commercial broilers and quails ( Sahin et al, 2010 ; Arif et al, 2019 ; Hayat et al, 2020 ; Huang et al, 2020 ; Van Hoeck et al, 2020 ), as well as carcass and breast meat yields ( Rajalekshmi et al, 2014 ; Van Hoeck et al, 2020 ). Other studies report that Cr 3+ modulates fat metabolism, such as diminished fat deposition in lambs and broilers but increases n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids in the muscles of broilers and pigs ( Toghyani et al, 2012 ; Moreno-Camarena et al, 2015 ; Jin et al, 2018 ; Han et al, 2021 ).…”