Dietary Inorganic Chromium in Summer-Exposed Buffalo Calves (Bubalus bubalis): Effects on Biomarkers of Heat Stress, Immune Status, and Endocrine Variables

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of different levels of inorganic chromium (Cr) on heat stress, immune response, and hormonal variation in Murrah buffalo calves during the summer season. Twenty-four growing Murrah buffalo calves were randomly allocated into four treatments for a period of 120 days. Feeding regimen was same in all the groups, except the buffalo calves in treatment groups were additionally supplemented with 0.5, 1.0, and 1.5 mg of inorganic Cr/kg dry matter. Buffalo calves were monitored daily for physiological variables and dry matter intake (DMI) and fortnightly for body weight change. Blood samples were collected at day 0, 15, 30, 45, 60, 75, 90, 105, and 120 and analyzed for heat shock protein 70 (Hsp 70), lymphocyte proliferation, neutrophil phagocytic activity, immunoglobulin, ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assay, insulin, cortisol and thyroid hormones, and Cr levels. Dietary Cr supplementation did not have any effect on DMI, growth performance, and physiological variables. However, lymphocyte proliferation, neutrophil phagocytic activity, plasma immunoglobulin, FRAP value, and plasma Cr concentration increased significantly (P < 0.05) with increase in levels of Cr. Adding Cr to the diet of summer-exposed buffalo calves did not show any effect on plasma levels of thyroid hormone, while concentration of insulin, cortisol, and Hsp 70 decreased (P < 0.05). Supplementation of inorganic Cr to the diet of buffalo calves reared under high ambient temperature improved heat tolerance, immune status without affecting nutrient intake, and growth performance.

Supplemental chromium in cold-stressed buffalo calves (Bubalus bubalis): effects on growth performance, nutrient utilization and cell mediated and humoral immune response

“…Blood Cr concentration might to a certain extent reflect the intake of this element, but in cases of excessive Cr intake, it is inappropriate to use the blood Cr concentration as an indicator of Cr status in animals (UNDERWOOD, 1977 Cell mediated and humoral immunity. Higher cell mediated immunity was obtained with inorganic Cr supplementation in the current study, which is consistent with the findings of KUMAR et al (2015) in heat-stressed buffalo calves. DEKA et al (2014) showed that periparturient Murrah buffaloes supplemented with 1.5 mg inorganic Cr/kg DM had higher B and T-cell proliferation.…”

“…Increased neutrophil phagocytic activity was also reported in Cr supplemented transition cattle (KAFILZADEH et al, 2012). However, no effect of dietary Cr supplementation on peripheral neutrophil phagocytic activity was reported by HALDAR et al (2009). The increase in humoral immune response in the 1.0 and 1.5 mg Cr/kg DM supplemented groups is consistent with the findings of KUMAR et al (2015) and DEKA et al (2014) who reported higher levels of TIg and IgG in Cr supplemented periparturient Murrah buffaloes and Murrah buffaloes calves, respectively. WANG et al (2007) stated that pigs supplemented with 200 μg/kg Cr as Cr-Nano had 13.2% and 20.6% higher serum concentrations of IgM and IgG.…”

“…A similar result was also reported by KUMAR et al (2015), who found that the addition of inorganic Cr to heat-stressed buffalo calves influenced neutrophil phagocytic activity. Increased neutrophil phagocytic activity was also reported in Cr supplemented transition cattle (KAFILZADEH et al, 2012).…”

“…However, no effect of Cr supplementation on nutrient intake under optimum ambient temperatures was reported in periparturient Murrah buffaloes (DEKA et al, 2014) and Holstein calves (DEPEW et al, 1996). KRAIDEES et al (2009) in transportation stressed calves, and KUMAR et al (2015) also ascribed no effect of Cr supplementation on growth performance in heatstressed buffalo calves. Accordingly, no difference in average daily gain (ADG), DMI, and gain:feed ratio in calves following dietary supplementation of 1.0 mg Cr/kg DM was reported by GENTRY et al (1999).…”

Nutritional Strategies to Alleviate Heat Stress in Dairy Animals - A Review

“…In addition, supplementing heat-stressed early lactation dairy cows with chromium reduced the degree of weight loss, improved milk production, reduced plasma NEFA concentrations, and improved rebreeding rates (Soltan, 2010;Mirzaei et al, 2011). Dietary inorganic chromium supplementation in summer-exposed buffalo calves improved heat tolerance, immune status and potency of insulin hormone (Kumar et al, 2015).…”