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MAXIMIZE CARCASS WEIGHT IN YOUR OPERATION

Cattle feeders in today's market need to optimize performance to stay competitive and profitable. Nutritionists strive to balance nutrients to maximize growth potential and muscle accretion. Meeting nutrient demand with essential nutrients at the appropriate time, with the correct formulation is paramount for success.

The role of chromium

Essential nutrients, like chromium, are key to driving performance optimization. Chromium has been studied for over 50 years and is considered an essential nutrient for beef cattle.1 It has been proven to enhance nutrient utilization playing key roles in improving immune function, increasing protein accretion and maximizing feed efficiency.

Additionally, chromium can help cattle withstand effects from stress events such as:

Mud icon

Mud

Transportation

Transportation

Ration changes

Ration changes

INSULIN IS THE KEY

Insulin plays a key role in optimum cell function by acting as a "key" to the door that allows glucose to enter into the cell. Chromium supplementation primarily acts to improve insulin sensitivity, so more glucose can enter the cell, thereby having more cellular energy for maintenance, growth and performance.

The potential effects of improved glucose utilization on carcass characteristics have shown trends in heavier, hot carcass weight and increased dressing percentage. Other studies with chromium have suggested the additional glucose is providing the energy needed for muscle accretion.2,3

Insulin is the key

HOW CAN CHROMIUM HELP YOU?

1. Increases hot carcass weight (HCW)

Data dive:

Effect of chromium supplementation in feedlot cattle

A series of 18 peer-reviewed journal articles outlines the impact of chromium supplementation on hot carcass weight (HCW).4

THE RESULTS?

Chromium supplementation increased hot carcass weight by an average of 21.2 lbs.

Effect of chromium supplementation in feedlot cattle

2. Boosts production of internalized GLUT4 transporters

Data dive:

Effect of chromium supplementation on GLUT4 transporters

The principal glucose transporter in cattle, GLUT4, is responsible for facilitating the movement of glucose into the cell. A recent study evaluated longissimus muscle biopsies to see the effect of supplementing insulin.5

THE RESULTS?

Longissimus muscle biopsies from cattle supplemented chromium propionate had an increase in internalized GLUT4s after a 147-day feeding period, which indicated these animals had more sufficient insulin sensitivity compared to the controls at day 147.

Longissimus muscle biopsies of feedlot steers supplemented with chromium propionate throughout the feeding period

Figure 1. Longissimus muscle biopsies of feedlot steers supplemented with chromium propionate throughout the feeding period (yellow indicated GLUT4 receptors).3

3. Maximizes performance of feedlot steers

Data dive:

Effect of chromium propionate supplementation on live performance of feedlot steers

Research trials tested the effect of chromium propionate on body weight and average daily gain (ADG) at various inclusion rates to determine the optimal inclusion rate.6

Performance of feedlot steers

THE RESULTS?

Cattle who received an inclusion rate of 450 ppb of chromium propionate weighed 79 pounds more than those who received 0 ppb, resulting in a 0.51 pound increase in ADG.

WHY KEMTRACE® CHROMIUM?

KemTRACE Chromium has been proven to boost the performance of feedlot cattle, including:

  • Body weight gain
  • Enhanced feed efficiency
  • Lower morbidity7,8,9

Third-party research with feeder cattle demonstrates feeding KemTRACE Chromium has positive effects on immune response, cytokines and acute phase response of cattle under stress.8

How KemTRACE Chromium Works

Ready to dive deeper?

Start with these resources.

Carcass Literature

KemTRACE Chromium Beef Mode Of Action O...
Effect of KemTRACE Chromium on Feedlot ...
KemTRACE Chromium Impact on the Beef Ca...
Effects of KemTRACE Chromium on Blood P...

Videos

Dr. Brad Johnson
Texas Tech University
Gordon W. Davis Regent's Chair in Meat and Muscle Biology Coordinator of Graduate Student Programs

 

References

1Perchova, A., Pavlata, L. 2007. Chromium As An Essential Nutrient: a Review. Veterinari Medicina, 52, 1:1-18.
2Sanchez-Mendoza, B., A. Montelongo-Terriquez, A. Plascencia, N. Torrentera, R.A. Ware, and R.A. Zinn. 2014. Influence of feeding chromium-enriched enzymatically hydrolyzed yeast on growth performance, dietary energetics and carcass characteristics in feedlot cattle under conditions of high ambient temperature. Journal of Applied Anima Research, 2015 Vol. 43, No. 4, 390–395, http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/09712119.2014.978781.
3Kneeskern, S.G., A.C. Dilger, S.C. Loerch, D.W. Shike, and T. L. Feliz. Effects of chromium supplementation to feedlot steers on growth performance, insulin sensitivity, and carcass characteristics. 2015. J. Animal Sci. 2016.94 doi:10.2527/jas2015-9517.
4The Effect of Chromium Supplementation in Feedlot Cattle on Hot Carcass Weight (HCW) Responses, lb., BR-2017-00002.
5Shaohui Huang and Michael P. Czech. The GLUT4 Glucose Transporter. Cell Metabolism 5, April 2007. 11
6Baggerman, J. O., Z. K. F. Smith, A. J. Thompson, J. Kim, P. W. Rounds, and B. J. Johnson. 2016. 0768 Chromium propionate supplementation alters feedlot performance and GLUT4 activity in feedlot steers. J. Anim. Sci. 94(Suppl5):369-370.
7Bernhard, B.C., N.C. Burdick, W. Rounds, R.J. Rathman, J.A. Carroll, D.N. Finck, M.A. Jennings, T.R. Young, and B.J. Johnson. 2012. Chromium supplementation alters the performance and health of feedlot cattle during the receiving period and enhances their metabolic response to a lipopolysaccharide challenge. J. Animal Sci. 90:3879-3888.
8Bernhard, B.C., N.C. Burdick, R.J. Rathman, J.A. Carroll, D.N. Finck, M.A. Jennings, T.R. Young, and B.J. Johnson. 2012. Chromium supplementation alters both glucose and lipid metabolism in feedlot cattle during the receiving period. J. Animal Sci. 90:4857-4865.
9Burdick, N.C., Bryan C. Bernhard, Jeffrey A. Carroll, Ryan J. Rathman, Bradley J. Johnson. 2011. Enhancement of the acute phase response to a lipopolysaccharide challenge in steers supplemented with chromium. Innate Immunity 18 (4) 592-601.


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