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Nutrient Requirements
Research Communication

Chromium Supplementation Can Alleviate Negative Effects of Heat Stress on Egg Production, Egg Quality and Some Serum Metabolites of Laying Japanese Quail

K. Sahin¹, O. Ozbey^*, M. Onderci, G. Cikim^** and M. H. Aysondu^*

Departments of Animal Nutrition and ^* Zootechnia, Veterinary Faculty, University of Firat, 23119 Elazig, Turkey; Veterinary Control and Research Institute, 23100 Elazig, Turkey; and ^** Department of Biochemistry, School of Medicine, University of Firat, 23119 Elazig, Turkey

¹To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: nsahinkm{at}yahoo.com.

This study was conducted to determine the effects of Cr (chromium picolinate, CrPic) supplementation at various levels (0, 200, 400, 800 or 1200 µg/kg of diet) on egg production, egg quality and serum concentrations of insulin, corticosterone and glucose in laying Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japanica) reared under conditions of heat stress (32.5°C). Laying Japanese quail (n = 150; 45 d old) were divided into five groups of 30 birds. The quail were fed either a control diet containing 965 µg Cr/kg diet or the control diet supplemented with 200, 400, 800 or 1200 µg of Cr/kg diet. Increased supplemental chromium increased body weight (P = 0.05, linear), feed intake (P = 0.05, linear), egg production (P = 0.01, linear) and also improved feed efficiency (P = 0.01, linear). Increased supplemental chromium linearly increased egg weight (P = 0.01), eggshell thickness, egg specific gravity (P = 0.05) and Haugh unit (P = 0.01). Serum insulin concentration increased linearly (P = 0.01), whereas corticosterone and glucose concentration decreased linearly (P = 0.05) as dietary chromium increased. The best results were obtained with 1200 µg Cr/kg diet, and chromium supplementation at such a level can be considered to be protective management practice in a quail diet, reducing the negative effects of heat stress.

KEY WORDS: • chromium • eggs • insulin • corticosterone • Japanese quail

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