EFFECTS OF CHROMIUM SUPPLEMENTATION ON THE GROWTH AND CARCASS QUALITYOF BULLS FED A GRAIN-BASED DIET DURING THE FINISHING PERIOD

Two groups of 12 young bulls, as similar as possible with respect to a ge and weight, were fed a basic diet of hay and concentrates ad libitu m for 170 days. The concentrate fed to one of the groups was supplemen ted with 0.20 mg of organic chromium per kg DM from a fodder yeast pro duct so that the concentration of chromium in the total dry matter of their diet was 0.90 mg/kg, compared with 0.72 mg/kg in the diet of the control group. No significant differences were observed between the t wo groups Of animals in terms of either their daily weight gain or any of the parameters of carcass quality examined. It is therefore conclu ded that in Sweden there is no reason to add chromium routinely to the diet of intensively fed, growing bulls.