Supplemental chromium in cold-stressed buffalo calves (Bubalus bubalis): effects on growth performance, nutrient utilization and cell mediated and humoral immune response

Abstract

Various stressors significantly increase urinary excretion of chromium (Cr), suggesting that Cr may be physiologically linked to the responses to control stress. The aim of this study was to determine the physiological responses of buffalo calves to increased Cr supply under low ambient temperature. In a randomized complete block design, twenty-four Murrah buffalo calves were assigned to 4 treatments for a period of 120 days. Treatments included either no supplemental Cr (control), 0.5 mg of supplemental Cr/kg DM, 1.0 mg of supplemental Cr/kg DM, or 1.5 mg of supplemental Cr/kg DM. Buffalo calves were monitored daily for physiological variables, dry matter intake (DMI) and fortnightly for body mass change. Blood samples were collected at fortnightly intervals and analyzed for the biomarkers of immunity and plasma trace mineral concentration. At the end of the 120 day experimental period, a 7 day metabolic trial was conducted. The average temperature-humidity index (THI) and relative humidity (RH) during the study were 58.10 units and 52.0% respectively. Physiological variables, DMI and growth performance did not differ among all treatments. 1.5 mg Cr/kg DM increased B and T-cell proliferation, neutrophil phagocytic activity and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) value, whereas plasma total immunoglobulin (TIg) and immunoglobulin G (IgG) concentrations were the highest in the 1.0 and 1.5 mg Cr/kg DM group. Nutrient digestibility, nitrogen (N) metabolism and trace mineral bioavailability did not differ between treatments, while the bioavailability of Cr showed a positive correlation with supplemental Cr level. The results suggest that in cold conditions, increased Cr supply can improve immune response without affecting physiological response, growth performance and nutrient utilization in buffalo calves.

Effects of dietary chromium-yeast level on growth performance, blood metabolites, meat traits and muscle fatty acids profile, and microminerals content in liver and bone of lambs

“…Although Cr-yeast reduced Fe concentration in liver (from 685.4 for control to an average of 570.0 mg Fe/ kg for Cr-yeast), it was higher than the reference (30-300 mg Fe/kg) values (Puls 1994). Cr has antioxidant and reducing capacity over Fe þ3 , Fe þ2 , this allows for greater absorption and retention of Fe (Kumar et al 2017;Alhidary et al 2018), which may explain the disappearance of Fe in the liver by increasing up to 0.4 mg Cr/kg DM in this experiment. Similarly, Cr-yeast supplementation reduced Cu concentration in liver (from 196 mg Cu/kg with the control treatment to an average of 169 mg Cu/kg with Cryeast), but that reduction was higher than the reference (25-100 mg/kg) values (Puls 1994).…”