Effects of chromium picolinate (CrP) on growth performance, carcass characteristics and serum traits in growing-finishing pigs

An experiment was carried out to evaluate the effects of feeding graded levels of chromium in the form of chromium picolinate on growth performance, blood components, carcass grade, in vitro lipogenesis and lipolysis, and in vitro protein degradation and synthesis in growing-finishing pigs. There were no significant differences for daily weight gain, feed intake and feed conversion among treatments during growing phase, while in the finishing phase, feed intake was lower in groups fed diets with 200 ppb chromium than in other treatment (p < 0.1). Feed conversion was improved in the groups fed diets with chromium compared with control. Carcass weight was similar among treatments while carcass length was longer in groups fed diets with 200 ppb chromium (p < 0.05). Thinner carcass fat was found with groups fed diets with chromium compared to control. Three A grade of carcasses were from groups fed chromium compared to control. No significant differences were observed with blood glucose, insulin, total cholesterol, triglycerides and non-esterified fatty acid at 60 kg body weight. While, at 100 kg body weight, blood triglyceride was lower in groups with 200 and 400 ppb chromium but higher in groups with 100 ppb chromium (p < 0.05). In vitro lipolysis and protein synthesis in adipose tissues were increased as dietary chromium was increased from 0 to 200 ppb (p < 0.1). As a result, 200 ppb chromium in a growing-finishing diet could improve feed efficiency and carcass traits; an increase to 400 ppb has no further effect.