Effects of dietary inclusion of chromium propionate on growth performance, intestinal health, immune response and nutrient transporter gene expression in broilers.

The intent of the present study was to evaluate the effect of chromium (Cr) as chromium propionate on growth performance, organ index, immune response, intestinal morphology and nutrient transporter gene expression in broilers. One-day-old broiler chicks (n = 756) were divided into six experimental groups of 126 chicks; each group was further divided into 7 replicates (18 chicks/replicate). All birds were offered corn-soybean diets supplemented with Cr at 0, 0.10, 0.15, 0.20, 0.25 or 0.30 mg/kg. Dietary inclusion of Cr at various levels yielded significantly better growth performance and organ index in birds. Similarly, antibody titre against Newcastle disease and avian influenza H5 at various ages was found to be significantly higher in birds that received 0.15 mg/kg Cr in the diet. Significant results with respect to villus height (VH), crypt depth (CD) and VH:CD were observed in all groups that received Cr in the diet compared to control. Moreover, it was observed that different levels of Cr supplementation of the diet also increased the expression of the nutrient transporter genes SGLT1, GLUT2, rBAT and CAT1 in broilers. The findings of the present study suggest that dietary inclusion of Cr at various levels may have beneficial effects on growth performance, immunity, intestinal morphology and nutrient transporter gene expression in broilers. Supplementation of the diet with Cr at a level of 0.15 mg/kg could yield better performance in broiler production.