THE EFFECT OF CHROMIUM SUPPLEMENTATION IN DIETS OF FATTENING BEEF

The present study aimed to evaluate the influence of different dietary chromium levels on growth performance and feed eficiency in feedlot cattle. The experiment was conducted on a commercial fattening unit located near Kruševac, Serbia, over a 28-day experimental period. A Latin square design with repeated measurements was employed using calves uniform in age and initial body weight. The animals were housed in a semi-open facility and individually fed to ensure accurate feed intake recording. Body weights were measured at seven-day intervals, while daily feed consumption was recorded throughout the trial. Variations in body weight and average daily gain among calves receiving diets with different chromium inclusions were not statistically significant (p>0.05). Conversely, the effect of the experimental period had a highly significant impact on the evaluated parameters (p<0.05; p <0.01; p<0.001). The feed conversion ratio recorded during the experimental period ranged from 3.5 to 4.6 kg/kg gain.

KEYWORDS / КЉУЧНЕ РЕЧИ: 

Chromium, calves, body weight, gain, feed

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT / ПРОЈЕКАТ:

This research was supported by the Ministry of Science, Technological Development and Innovation of the Republic of Serbia, grant number: 451-03-137/2025-03/200383; 451-03-136/2025-03/200053; 451-03-136/2025-03/200217.

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