Effect of Chromium Supplementation on Productive and Reproductive Performances and Some Metabolic Parameters in Late Gestation and Early Lactation of Dairy Cows

• Published in: Biological trace element research 2012-10, Vol.149 (1), p.42-49
• Main Authors: Kafilzadeh, F, shabankareh, H. Karami, Targhibi, M. R
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animal Feed; Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; Animal reproduction; Animals; Biochemistry; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Biotechnology; Blood Glucose; blood serum; Body mass; Body Weight - drug effects; calving; Cattle; Cattle - metabolism; Chromium; Chromium - administration & dosage; Chromium - pharmacology; conception; cortisol; Dairies; Dairy cattle; dairy cows; days open; diet; Dietary Supplements; Diets; early lactation; Estrus; Estrus - drug effects; Estrus - metabolism; Fatty acids; Fatty Acids, Nonesterified - blood; Feeds; Female; free fatty acids; Gestation; Glucose; Head; Holstein; Hydrocortisone; Hydrocortisone - blood; insemination; Insulin; Insulin - blood; Lactation; Lactation - drug effects; Lactation - metabolism; Lactose; Leukocytes (neutrophilic); Life Sciences; Lymphocytes; Lymphocytes - metabolism; Metabolism; Methionine - administration & dosage; Methionine - pharmacology; Milk; Milk - secretion; milk yield; Neutrophils - metabolism; Nutrition; Oncology; ovulation; Parity; Postpartum; Postpartum Period - drug effects; pregnancy; Pregnancy - drug effects; Pregnancy - metabolism; prepartum period; Progesterone; Progesterone - blood; Reproduction; Reproduction - drug effects; reproductive performance
• ISSN: 0163-4984; 1559-0720
• DOI: 10.1007/s12011-012-9390-0

The objective of this study was to determine the effect of supplemental chromium as chromium-L-methionine (Cr-Met) on productive and reproductive performances and some metabolic parameters in late gestation and early lactation of dairy cows. Sixty multiparous Holstein dairy cows according to prior lactation, parity, body mass (682 ± 33 kg), and expected calving date were divided equally (30 cows/treatment) and were randomly allocated to one of the two groups. One group received basal diet without Cr (control group) and another group received Cr-Met supplement added at manufacturer’s recommended level (8 mg of “Cr”/head per day) from 21 days before expected calving date until 21 days of lactation. Supplemental Cr tended to increase milk yield (P = 0.08) while percentage of lactose and lactose yield increased (P