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Published on: July 11, 2015
Chromium propionate supplementation modulates rumen fermentation, immune response, temperament, and growth of
Hiam Marcon1,2,3, Matheus F L Ferreira4, Ashley K Edwards1,4
1Dean Lee Research and Extension Center, Louisiana State University, Alexandria, LA 71302, United States.
Abstract:
This experiment evaluated the effects of chromium (Cr) propionate supplementation on rumen fermentation, immune response, temperament, and growth of Brangus steers during preconditioning. Sixty Brangus steers (body weight [BW] = 250 ± 31.5 kg) were assigned to one of two treatments (six pastures per treatment; five steers/pasture): 1) Control (no Cr) or 2) Cr (0.01 mg of Cr/kg of BW). Chromium propionate was top-dressed onto soybean hulls, which were offered at 0.7% BW/day. Bermudagrass hay was provided ad libitum. Steers were vaccinated on d 0, and BW and blood samples were collected on d 0, 22, and 59, with rumen fluid collected on d 0 and 56. Liver Cr concentrations tended to be greater (P = 0.08) in Cr vs. Control steers. Rumen fluid concentrations of acetate and total volatile fatty acids (VFA) tended to be greater (P = 0.09), whereas molar proportions of isovalerate were less (P = 0.04), and isobutyrate and valerate tended to be less (P = 0.10) in Cr vs. Control steers. At the phylum level, the richness tended to be greater (P = 0.10) in Cr vs. Control steers. At the genus level, the abundance of Prevotella was less (P = 0.05), and Eubacterium, Roseburia and Anaerobutyricum tended to be greater (P ≤ 0.09) in Cr vs. Control steers. Serum insulin tended to be less (P = 0.08), and cortisol was less (P = 0.05) on d 22 in Cr vs. Control steers. Additionally, serum glucose tended to be less (P = 0.10), independent of day, in Cr vs. Control steers. Serum parainfluenza-3 (PI3) virus titer concentrations tended to be greater (P = 0.10), independent of day, in Cr vs. Control steers. Serum bovine viral diarrhea virus type 1 (BVDV-1) titer concentration was greater (P < 0.01) and bovine respiratory syncytial virus (BRSV) seroconversion tended to be greater (P = 0.09) on d 22 in Cr vs. Control steers. Additionally, the seroconversion for infectious bovine rhinotracheitis (IBR) tended to be greater (P = 0.09) on d 59 in Cr vs. Control steers. Exit scores from the squeeze chute were less (P = 0.04) on d 22 and 59, and the exit velocity tended to be less (P = 0.08) on d 22, in Cr vs. Control steers. Average daily gain was greater (P = 0.03) from d 0 to 22 but similar thereafter (P = 0.13) in Cr vs. Control steers. Thus, Cr supplementation shifted rumen fermentation toward greater fiber-derived VFA production, improved vaccine-induced immune responses, reduced stress, and enhanced early-phase growth during preconditioning.
