CHROMIUM SUPPLEMENTS IN THE FEED FOR GROW ING PIGS - INFLUENCE ON GROWTH AND MEAT QUALITY

An experiment with 40 female growing pigs from 27.4 to 106.5 kg body w eight (BW) in individual pens was conducted to evaluate the effect of different chromium supplements (Cr-chloride; Cr-yeast and Cr-picolinat e) according Co 0.5 ppm Cr in the diet compared with a control diet wi thout any additional chromium. The influence on growth performance and carcass as well as meat composition was studied. In comparison with t he control diet body weight gain and feed conversion ratio in the fini shing period (60 to 106.5 kg BW) were significant increased and lowere d respectively in the treatment with Cr-chloride and with the other Cr supplements tendentially. The results of the carcass composition as w ell as the fatty acid profile of neutral and complex lipids in the mus cle (M. longissimus dorsi) at the 10th rib did not indicate a statisti cally significant effect of the Cr supplements. Furthermore energy uti lization on the base of digestibility was not affected. Concerning the Longissimus muscle area and the intramuscular fat content there were positive tendencies of the investigated Cr supplements.