title: Effect of chromium picolinate on growth, body composition, and tissue accretion in pigs.
abstract: An experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of dietary chromium picolinate (CrP) on growth and body composition of pigs. Twenty-four barrows (three from each of eight litters) were randomly allotted within litter to one of three treatments: 1) basal (B) diet from 19.1 to 106.4 kg BW (Control); 2) B from 19.1 to 57.2 kg BW and then B + 200 ppb of chromium as CrP from 57.2 to 106.4 kg BW (CrP-F); and 3) B + 200 ppb of chromium as CrP from 19.1 to 106.4 kg BW (CrP- GF). Average daily gain and ADFI were reduced (P < .08) and first rib fat thickness was increased (P < .08) in pigs fed CrP-GF compared with pigs fed the Control diet. Specific gravity of the carcass was not affected (P > .10) by treatment. Tenth rib fat was reduced (P < .01) in pigs fed CrP-F compared with pigs fed CrP-GF, and percentage of muscle was increased in pigs fed CrP-F (P < .09) compared with pigs fed either the Control or CrP-GF diets. Leaf fat (P < .05) and lung weights (P < .08) were reduced in pigs fed CrP-F compared with pigs fed CrP-GF. As determined by physical-chemical separation, pigs fed CrP-GF had an increased (P < .07) percentage of intermuscular fat compared with pigs fed the Control or CrP-F diets. Pigs fed CrP-F had a lesser (P < .07) percentage of total fat and a greater (P < .07) percentage of muscle than pigs fed the Control or CrP-GF diets. As determined by mechanical-chemical separation, pigs fed CrP-F had a greater (P < .10) percentage of moisture than pigs fed the Control diet and a lesser (P < .10) percentage of fat and a greater (P < .06) percentage of ash than pigs fed the Control or CrP-GF diets. Pigs fed CrP-GF had an increased (P < .04) daily fat accretion compared with pigs fed CrP-F. Sensory and shear force values were not affected by CrP, with the exception that meat from pigs fed CrP-GF had a greater (P < .10) shear force value than meat from pigs fed CrP-F. These results suggest that dietary supplementation of CrP in the finishing phase of pig production may increase muscle and decrease fat deposition; however, not all measures of muscling or fatness were improved by CrP.
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Science, Louisiana State University Agricultural Center, Baton Rouge 70803, USA.
authors.forename: S L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Boleman
authors.forename: S J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Boleman
authors.forename: T D
authors.initials: TD
authors.lastname: Bidner
authors.forename: L L
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Southern
authors.forename: T L
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Ward
authors.forename: J E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Pontif
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Pike
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001823:Body Composition / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D008099:Liver / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000254:growth & development; D008168:Lung / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000254:growth & development; D008297:Male; D008460:Meat / Q000592:standards; D024510:Muscle Development; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology; D009929:Organ Size / Q000187:drug effects; D010848:Picolinic Acids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011897:Random Allocation; D013046:Specific Gravity; D013552:Swine / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D010848:Picolinic Acids; C030614:picolinic acid