Research Note: Responses of growth performance, immune traits, and small intestinal morphology to dietary supplementation of chromium propionate in heat-stressed broilers

This study was conducted to investigate the dose responses of growth performance, immune traits, and small intestinal morphology to dietary supplementation of chromium propionate (CrPro) in heat-stressed broilers. A total of 252 1-day-old Cobb 500 male broilers were randomly assigned to 6 treatments with 7 replicate cages of 6 birds per cage. The dietary treatments consisted of a basal diet supplemented with 0, 0.2, 0.4, 0.8, 1.6, and 3.2 mg/kg Cr in the form of CrPro. The birds had ad libitum access to feed and tap water for an experimental period of 42 D. For induction of heat stress, the house temperature was set at 35°C ± 2°C from 22 to 42 D of age. No differences were detected among treatments in growth performance during the experimental period (P > 0.05). Serum IgA concentrations were not affected by treatment (P > 0.05). However, a quadratic response was detected for serum IgG (P < 0.01) and IgM (P < 0.01) concentration as dietary Cr supplementation was increased. The highest response of IgG and IgM in serum was observed for broilers fed a diet supplemented with 0.2 mg of Cr/kg. Dietary supplementation of Cr had no impacts on villus height, crypt depth, or the ratio of villus height to crypt depth in the jejunum and ileum. A quadratic response of villus height and the ratio of villus height to crypt depth and a linear response of crypt depth to increased dietary Cr supplementation were observed in the duodenum (P < 0.01). The results indicate that CrPro supplementation could modify the intestinal morphology of the duodenum and influence serum IgG and IgM concentrations in heat-stressed broiler chickens. Based on the results of this experiment, the 0.2-mg Cr/kg diet from CrPro increases immune response and intestinal health in heat-stressed broilers.