Chromium helps animals with reproduction and immunity
By Diego Flammini
Staff Writer
Farms.com
An important nutrient for cattle and poultry producers is now available for use in Canada.
On Sept. 12, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) announced that chromium propionate can be used in beef cattle and broiler diets, effective immediately.
Chromium helps activate insulin receptors in animals so more glucose can enter cells. Increasing glucose availability can give the animal more energy to help with maintenance, reproduction, growth and immunity.
The CFIA approval is good news for ingredient manufacturers like Kemin Canada, who market a product called KemTRACE Chromium.
Chromium received approval in the U.S. about 20 years ago, so Kemin’s data is mostly based off American trials and research.
“This essential nutrient helps improve cellular energy, and the animal decides how it’s going to use the extra energy,” James Osborne, key account manager with Kemin Canada, told Farms.com during Canada's Outdoor Farm Show.
The chromium will also have different affects depending on the animal that ingests it, Osborne said.
In cattle, some of the benefits include “efficiencies in the immune system and breeding, whereas in the broilers we see improvements to yield and feed conversion.”
For broiler producers, using chromium can also have economic benefits while working within the quota system.
“In the U.S., farmers are paid by breast yield, but we don’t do that here,” Osborne said. “One of the few ways to make extra money after you’ve filled your quota is to be more efficient. If you feed less feed, the bill goes down which can equal savings.”
Hogs also benefit from chromium in their diets.
The CFIA granted the hog industry permission to use chromium propionate in 2010.
Trials show that chromium in swine helps the animals manage heat stress, Osborne said.