Supplementation of chromium and vitamin C to alleviate cold stress in white leghorn chicken

Abstract

Sixty numbers of White Leghorn chicken layers were reared for 2 months from December, 2019 to January, 2020. Normal basal diet, chromium picolinate @400µg/kg of feed plus normal basal diet, vitamin C @250mg/kg of feed plus basal diet and chromium picolinate @400µg/kg of feed and vitamin C @250mg/kg of feed plus basal diet were provided to control, T1, T2 and T3 groups respectively. Ambient temperature and relative humidity were recorded at 6h intervals. Blood glucose, total plasma protein, albumin and total cholesterol were estimated in blood samples on 0, 30th and 60th day of treatment. The layers experienced a mild degree of cold stress with the lowest minimum ambient temperature of 8.72 oC. Blood glucose and total cholesterol increased due to cold in control but not in supplemented groups. The study indicated that chromium picolinate and vitamin C supplementation prevented cold stress induced rise in blood glucose and total cholesterol in layer chicken.