Trace minerals and their role in stress mitigation

Beef and dairy cattle are inevitably exposed to stress during their productive lives. Pregnancy, lactation, weaning, handling, transportation, commingling, exposure to novel environments, heat or cold stress, and feedlot acclimation could lead to psychological and physical stress, leading to high demands for nutrients, significant utilisation and loss of trace minerals from the body, and reduced feed intake, resulting in impaired immunity, fertility and productivity¹. Our goal is to minimise the cost of stress and help animals achieve optimal performance by improving handling and nutrition management.

Chromium, the new essential trace mineral

Chromium. A new essential trace mineral solution.

Trace minerals play a vital role in cattle health and performance by supporting immune function, antioxidant activity, fertility, nutrient utilisation and mitigating stress responses. One essential trace mineral that has recently been a focus of nutritionists and researchers alike is chromium.

The benefits of chromium in livestock nutrition have gained attention since the late 20th century when research began highlighting its role in improving glucose metabolism and reducing stress responses. Over the recent decades, chromium has been recognised as a valuable micronutrient in modern livestock management, supporting both productivity and animal well-being.

Chromium is a naturally occurring trace mineral found in the diets of ruminants including cattle and sheep. However, chromium concentrations in common feedstuffs vary greatly². Research shows that chromium supplementation enhances resilience, maximises nutrient utilisation, mitigates stress responses, reduces oxidative stress, improves immune function, and even boosts muscle-to-fat ratios, milk yield and reproductive outcomes^3-11. Highlighting chromium's role in improving livestock performance, especially during stressful and high-demand periods such as weaning and heat stress.

“Weaning is one of the most stressful periods in the life of a young cattle. Chromium supplementation shows promising results in helping livestock maintain their health and performance by mitigating stress responses and improving nutrient utilisation”, says Dr. Paula Gonzalez-Rivas, Technical Services Manager for Livestock at global animal health company, Virbac Australia. “Research demonstrates that chromium can offer that extra edge, helping to ensure resilient, healthy, productive, and profitable herds, even when stress and metabolic demands are at the highest”.

Chromium’s health benefits

Dr Surinder Chauhan, Associate Professor of the School of Agriculture, Food and Ecosystem Sciences at the University of Melbourne, emphasises the growing need for complementary solutions to heat stress.

“Heat stress in livestock is inevitable during increasingly long summers”. He said, "it can severely impact livestock's health, productivity, and wellbeing. Chromium supplementation can be a valuable tool to improve animal productivity and welfare over summer."

Some of the benefits of chromium supplementation in cattle include:

1. Enhanced Energy Utilisation
   Stress saps energy from livestock, impacting their ability to thrive. Chromium improves insulin sensitivity, allowing for better glucose utilisation and feed efficiency. Further, it supports metabolic functions and ensures animals have the energy they need during periods of stress.
   
   “Chromium has been shown to enhance insulin sensitivity, thereby improving glucose utilisation and improving production, which is often compromised during stressful periods", explains Associate Professor Chauhan. "This helps in maintaining energy levels and supporting metabolic function."
    
2. Mitigate Stress Responses and Boosted Immune Function
   Chromium can reduce the levels of cortisol^3,5,7 - the main stress hormone. Furthermore, chromium supports immune function by ensuring activated immune cells have the glucose they need, helping animals stay healthier and recover faster during stressful periods.
    
3. Protection from Oxidative Stress
   Chromium’s antioxidant properties^4,11 help neutralise free radicals, protecting cells from oxidative damage. Oxidative stress is associated with damage to immune cells, tissues and the early embryo and decreased meat quality¹². "The antioxidant properties of chromium help to reduce oxidative stress and inflammation which has a protective effect on cells during heat stress", adds Associate Professor Chauhan.

Should you consider chromium supplementation in your herd?

Incorporating chromium into cattle nutrition plans can significantly enhance stress resilience and improve metabolic efficiency, leading to healthier, more productive animals. By supplementing chromium, producers can ensure better performance outcomes and contribute to the long-term success of their herds.

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