Effects of Chromium (III) Picolinate and Chromium (III) Picolinate Nanoparticles Supplementation on Growth Performance, Organs Weight and Immune Function in Cyclic Heat Stressed Broiler Chickens

This experiment conducted to investigate the effects of dietary chromium (III) picolinate (CrPic) and chromium (III) picolinate nanoparticles (NanoCrPic) supplementation on growth performance, organs weight and immune function of broilers exposed to heat stress. Heat stress (36 degrees C) was applied for 10 h per day from the 21th to the 42nd days. Among 8 experimental treatments; only group T1 represented the non-heat stressed control group fed with a basal diet in comfort zone whereas group T2 represented the heat stressed control group fed with a basal diet. Heat stressed T3, T4, T5 groups were fed with basal diet supplemented with 500, 1.000, 1.500 ppb of CrPic/kg while T6, T7, T8 groups were fed with bsal diet supplemeted with 500, 1.000, 1.500 ppb of NanoCrPic/kg respectively. Results of the current experiment showed that the non-heat stressed group had a higher final BW, daily weight gain and daily feed intake compared with heat stressed groups during the experiment period (d 21-42), Among heat stressed groups, FCR values improved by supplementation of Cr into the diet. NanoCrPic 1.500 treatment had the lowest (P<0.05) FCR (2.14) of the total experimental period among heat stressed groups. The liver weight values of the day 35 of experiment differed significantly (P<0.05). Serum complement component C3 of experimental broilers was severely affected by the Cr supplementation. The results indicated that the nanoparticle supplementation might be an influential method for reduction of heat stress induced disorders which may attribute to the lowering of FCR and provoking the hepatic related alteration including the liver weigth.