Role of Chromium in Dairy Cattle Nutrition

Chromium (Cr) is an essential trace element for humans (Anderson, 1992) and laboratory animals (NRC, 1997). It is the trivalent form of the molecule that is active biologically, the hexavalent form is actually toxic to many animal cells (NRC, 1997). Chromium acts through a protein, once named glucose tolerance factor (GTF), now more commonly referred to as the glucose transporter. This protein interacts with the insulin receptor complex in facilitating the action of insulin. Although Cr is a required mineral, there had been scant evidence in past decades that supplemental Cr could benefit agricultural animals. Available data in humans using Cr as the picolinate salt do not support the view that additional Cr has benefits in energy metabolism, although many people claim such effects. About 15 years ago, more consistent reports showed that supplemental Cr, primarily in more soluble forms, benefits young pigs, and Cr-propionate (KemTRACE® brand Cr-propionate, Kemin AgriFoods North America, Des Moines, IA) was approved for all phases of swine production in 2000. There are also now sufficient data in the literature that suggest that more soluble forms of Cr such as Cr-methionine or Cr-propionate may have benefits in lactating cattle.