Effect of Chromium Supplementation on Production and Metabolic Parameters in Periparturient Dairy Cows

¹ Department of Dairy Science, University of Wisconsin, Madison 53706-1284
² Zinpro Corp., Eden Prairie, MN 55344

The effect of supplemental chromium as chromium-methionine (Cr-Met) on production and metabolic parameters was investigated in 48 cows from 28 d before expected calving date through 28 d of lactation. Average body weight (BW) was 730 ± 61 kg before treatment. Treatments were supplementation of 0, 0.03, 0.06, and 0.12 mg of Cr as Cr-Met/kg of BW^0.75 . Dry matter intake increased linearly and quadratically during the prepartum and postpartum periods, respectively, and body condition score loss decreased linearly during the postpartum period with increasing Cr-Met. Increasing Cr-Met supplementation caused quadratic increases in milk, fat, and lactose yields. Treatments did not affect concentrations of blood metabolites and liver triglyceride. Serum insulin concentration and molar ratio of insulin to glucose for cows receiving Cr-Met were lower than for cows not receiving Cr-Met, but they increased quadratically with increasing Cr-Met. Glucose tolerance tests (GTT) were conducted on d 10 prepartum and d 28 postpartum. Chromium-methionine supplementation attenuated insulin sensitivity prepartum and enhanced glucose tolerance postpartum, but not prepartum. Basal insulin concentrations for cows receiving Cr-Met were higher than for cows not receiving Cr-Met during the prepartum GTT. During the postpartum GTT, peak glucose concentration and clearance rate decreased and half-life (t) and time to reach basal concentration (T) were prolonged quadratically by increasing Cr-Met. Additionally, peak insulin concentration, area under the curve, and molar ratio of insulin to glucose were higher for cows not receiving Cr-Met than for cows receiving Cr-Met and t and T were shortened quadratically by increasing Cr-Met.

Key Words: periparturient dairy cow • chromium • glucose • tolerance test • metabolic parameter

Submitted on July 24, 2000
Accepted on December 8, 2000

This article has been cited by other articles:

				H. Sadri, G. R. Ghorbani, H. R. Rahmani, A. H. Samie, M. Khorvash, and R. M. Bruckmaier Chromium supplementation and substitution of barley grain with corn: Effects on performance and lactation in periparturient dairy cows J Dairy Sci, November 1, 2009; 92(11): 5411 - 5418. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				K. L. Smith, M. R. Waldron, L. C. Ruzzi, J. K. Drackley, M. T. Socha, and T. R. Overton Metabolism of Dairy Cows as Affected by Prepartum Dietary Carbohydrate Source and Supplementation with Chromium Throughout the Periparturient Period J Dairy Sci, May 1, 2008; 91(5): 2011 - 2020. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. A. A. Pires, J. B. Pescara, A. E. Brickner, N. Silva del Rio, A. P. Cunha, and R. R. Grummer Effects of Abomasal Infusion of Linseed Oil on Responses to Glucose and Insulin in Holstein Cows J Dairy Sci, April 1, 2008; 91(4): 1378 - 1390. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. M. Sumner, F. Valdez, and J. P. McNamara Effects of Chromium Propionate on Response to an Intravenous Glucose Tolerance Test in Growing Holstein Heifers J Dairy Sci, July 1, 2007; 90(7): 3467 - 3474. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. A. A. Pires, A. H. Souza, and R. R. Grummer Induction of Hyperlipidemia by Intravenous Infusion of Tallow Emulsion Causes Insulin Resistance in Holstein Cows J Dairy Sci, June 1, 2007; 90(6): 2735 - 2744. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				K. L. Smith, M. R. Waldron, J. K. Drackley, M. T. Socha, and T. R. Overton Performance of Dairy Cows as Affected by Prepartum Dietary Carbohydrate Source and Supplementation with Chromium Throughout the Transition Period J Dairy Sci, January 1, 2005; 88(1): 255 - 263. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. A. Bryan, M. T. Socha, and D. J. Tomlinson Supplementing Intensively Grazed Late-Gestation and Early-Lactation Dairy Cattle with Chromium J Dairy Sci, December 1, 2004; 87(12): 4269 - 4277. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. Hayirli, S. J. Bertics, and R. R. Grummer Effects of Slow-release Insulin on Production, Liver Triglyceride, and Metabolic Profiles of Holsteins in Early Lactation J Dairy Sci, September 1, 2002; 85(9): 2180 - 2191. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]