Influence of chromium (Cr) on the immune response-related to confinement stress and pre-slaughter management

• Grant number: 12/02821-9
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: April 01, 2012
• End date: August 31, 2013
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Animal Husbandry - Ecology of Domestic Animals and Ethology
• Principal Investigator: Cristiane Gonçalves Titto
• Grantee: Annanda Souza de Figueiredo
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Zootecnia e Engenharia de Alimentos (FZEA). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Pirassununga , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The main objective is to verify the possible effects of diet supplementation of lambs with organic chromium on performance, welfare and meat quality. The experiment is carried out at the sector of Ovinocultura of Laboratório de Biometeorologia e Etologia, Faculdade de Zootecnia e Engenharia de Alimentos, Universidade de São Paulo (FZEA / USP), located in Pirassununga, SP. Will be used 64 crossbred lambs White Dorper x Santa Inês, divided in two groups in confinement: control group (Co) and chromium group (Cr) that will receive supplementation of 0,6 mg Chromium/kg diet in the form of chromium yeast. Animal weight gain will be assessed and during this procedure, blood samples will also be collected from the jugular vein of each animal to check for possible hepatotoxicity of chromium in the body of the animal. At 29 Ú and 58 Ú day trial a delayed type hypersensitivity test using phytohemagglutinin will be done according to the technique described by Kegley and Spears (1995), to assess the effects of Cr on cellular immunity. In the slaughterhouse, the pH of the carcasses will be measured at 1 and 24 hours after slaughter, to check the meat quality among the different treatments (Co and Cr). Statistical analysis will be performed using the PROC GLM and TTEST Procedure (SAS, 2000). We expected to find positive relationships between chromium supplementation and performance, welfare and meat quality of the animal. (AU)