An experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of feeding different graded levels of chromium chloride (Crcl3) on performance, blood constituents and digestive enzymes activity of broiler chicks.
Two hundred and seventy day-old Hubbard broiler chicks were allocated randomly to 6 experimental treatments, 45 chicks each. All birds were fed on corn soybean basal diet supplemented with 6 graded levels of chromium chloride as 0 (control), 25, 50, 75, 100 and 125mg/kg diet.
The results indicated that, average body weighs were improved significantly by adding 25 and 50 mg Crcl3 /kg diet. There were a non significant improve in feed conversion ratio (g feed / g gain). Feed consumption values were not affected by enriched Crcl3 into diets. Mortality rates were dramatically reduced.
Blood contents of total lipids, cholesterol, triglycerides, and glucose were decreased as a result of Crcl3 addition. Blood concentration of total proteins was increased significantly due to adding Crcl3 by 75, 100 and 125 mg/kg diet, while blood albumin was significantly affected only at levels of 100 and 125 mg Crcl3. Blood globulin was significantly higher than control at levels of 50, 75 and 100mg Crcl3. Besides, a reduction in albumin/globulin ratio at same levels was recorded. So chromium supplementation may enhance immune function of chicks
Blood concentrations of thyroid hormones (T3 and T4) were significantly higher in treated groups than the controls. Alkaline phosphatase enzyme reduced significantly whiles the level of GOT and GPT enzyme was not affected. Amylase enzyme values were significantly elevated in stomach and duodenum, while in jejunum this effect was not clear. Lipase enzyme activity was significantly higher in duodenum and jejunum in birds treated with 75, 100 and 125mg chromium /kg diet. Trypsine and Chemotrypsin values in duodenum and jejunum were not affected.
It can be concluded that, chromium supplementation into broiler diets may enhance growth performance traits, interfere with lipid and carbohydrate metabolism and could improve the immune system responses and positively affect pancreatic enzymes activity.