EFFECT OF ORGANIC SOURCES OF CHROMIUM SUPPLEMENTATION WITH LOW LEVELS OF PROTEIN ON THE GROWTH PERFORMANCE AND RUMEN FERMENTATION PROFILE OF GROWING STEERS Authors: Euclides Reuter De Oliveira, Flávio Geraldo Ferreira Castro, Jefferson Rodrigues Gandra, Rogério De Carvalho Ramos, Eduardo Valcácer Brandstetter, Flávio Pinto Monção, Laís Valenzuela Moura, Géssica Cristina Garcia Rodrigues, Thaís Lemos Journal: Journal of Animal and Plant Sciences (JAPS) ISSN: 1018-7081 (Print), 2309-8694 (Online) Volume: 26 Issue: 2 Pages: 347-354 Year: 2016 DOI: NA URL: https://doi.org/NA Publisher: Pakistan Agricultural Scientists Forum Abstract:

The aim of this study was to evaluate organic sources of chromium and the level of inclusion of these sources on the growth performance and rumen fermentation of Nellore Angus crossbred steers with low protein diets. Forty-eight crossbreed Red Angus Nellore, with body weight of approximately 200 ±14 kg and 10 months old, were used. Twelve animals were cannulated in the rumen to evaluate the dry matter degradability of Tifton-85 hay and ruminal fermentation profile. A randomized block design was applied, with a 3x4 factorial arrangement. Animals were distributed among the twelve diets, in which the three chromium sources were used. The chromium sources used were: 1- hrome sulfate, 2- chromium yeast, 3-chromium methionine, with four levels of inclusion 0, 1, 2 and 4 mg / animal / day. An effect for chromium sources and levels for dry matter intake was observed, as well as the effect of source and levels of inclusion of chromium and their interaction in the diets. For the concentrations of propionate, chromium source was important, with the highest percentage obtained for chromium yeast. Diets with low levels of crude protein are recommended for the growth of non-stressed crossbred Nellore Angus, with the additional use of chromium yeast or chromium methionine at the dose of 2 mg / animal / day.

Keywords: digestibility, chromium yeast, chromium methionine, ruminal fermentation, growth performance