Effects of Dietary Organic and Inorganic Chromium Supplementation on Performance, Egg Shell Quality and Serum Parameters in Pharaoh Quails

This study was conducted to determine the effects of organic and inorganic chromium (Cr) supplementation on performance parameters, eggshell quality and some serum parameters of laying Pharaoh quails (Coturnix coturnix Pharaoh). Laying quails (n: 360; 59 days old) were randomly divided into three experimental groups each including 120 birds. Basal diet applied to control group was based on corn-soybean meal without additional organic or inorganic Cr. An amount of 100 ppm organic Cr (chromium picolinate) and 1000 ppm inorganic Cr (chromium chloride) were added to diets of group I and group II, respectively. All birds received feed and water ad libitum during the experiment which was lasted 8 weeks. In this study, it was found that organic and inorganic chromium supplementation cause an increase in eggshell thickness (p< 0.01) and eggshell breaking strength (p< 0.001). On the other side no significant effect was detected in feed consumption, feed efficiency, egg weight and egg production (p> 0.05). Serum cholesterol levels of birds were not affected both by organic and inorganic chromium supplementation. Contrary to these results, serum glucose levels were also significantly (p<0.01) increased in inorganic Cr supplemented group compared to control group. Serum glucose level was lower in organic Cr supplemented group than in inorganic Cr supplemented group. Serum total protein levels were significantly (p< 0.01) increased in group I (100 ppm organic Cr). In this study more satisfied results were obtained by Cr-picolinate supplementation. It can be due to the higher bioavailability of organic chromium sources than of inorganic sources. No side effect of chromium had been recorded at supplemented doses in experimental groups.