Effect of different levels of chromium chloride on performance and antibody titre against Newcastle and Avian Influenza virus in broiler chicks

Three hundred one-day-old male broilers (Ross 308) were allocated to five treatments with four replicates in a completely randomized design. Treatments supplemented with 0 (control), 400, 800, 1200 or 1600 ppb chromium in the form of chromium chloride. All birds were intramuscularly immunized with killed vaccine of Newcastle and Avian Influenza (H9 N2) virus at 8 d. On days 18 and 28 blood samples were collected from the wing vein of eight birds per treatment and serum antibody titres against Newcastle and Influenza virus were determined. At 42 days of age, two chicks from each replicate were slaughtered, spleen and bursa of fabricius were removed, weighed and expressed as a percentage of live body weight. Body weight, weight gain and feed efficiency improved significantly (P<0.05) in broilers fed 1600 ppb supplemental chromium. Feed intake of broilers was not affected by supplemental chromium. Percentage of bursa of fabricius and spleen in broilers fed 1600 ppb chromium increased. Broilers fed chromium supplementation had higher antibody titres against Newcastle and Influenza virus (P<0.05). The results of this experiment indicated that chromium supplementation improved performance and antibody titre against Influenza and Newcastle virus in broiler chicks.