L. Kalaycioglu et al., Effect of chromium and magnesium supplementation in broiler diets on body weight and some blood parameters, I J ANIM SC, 69(10), 1999, pp. 832-837
The objective of the present study was to define: the effect of supplementa
tion of 20 mg/kg chromium (Cr) and 600 mg/kg magnesium (Mg), including two
protein levels on Peterson x Avian chicks used in a 2 x 2 x 2 factorial des
ign. The experiment lasted 51 days. Three different diets were fed between
the days of 1-22, 21-35, and 35-51. Live weights and feed intake values wer
e determined weekly At the end of the experiment blood samples were drawn b
y cardiac puncture. Mg and albumin levels in serum were determined by using
spectrophotometer and commercial test kits. In general, there were no stat
istically significant effects of Cr and/or Mg supplementation in broiler di
ets. But in low protein groups the supplementation of the minerals increase
d the growth performance parameters. High protein level diets unexpectedly
reduced live weight gain and feed intake but feed conversion rates in high
protein groups were better than the low protein. groups. High level of prot
ein increased serum albumin but decreased Mg levels. Mg supplementation inc
reased serum Mg levels but not serum albumin levels while Cr supplementatio
n did not cause any effect on levels of both parameters.