Effect of chromium supplementation and copper status on glucose and lipid metabolism in Angus and Simmental beef cows

Pregnant Angus (n = 83) and Simmental (n = 69) cows were blocked by age into three blocks and then randomly assigned by breed to one of two free choice mineral supplements to determine effects of dietary Cr and Cu status on glucose metabolism and blood metabolites in beef cows. Supplements consisted of: (1) control (no supplemental Cr) and (2) 40 mg Cr/kg of mineral (from Cr picolinate). Mineral supplements were formulated to contain all minerals typically supplemented to cattle diets with the exception of Cu. The study began approximately 75 days prepartum, at which time half of the cows in each treatment received a 25 g Cu oxide needle bolus. Blood was collected from 36 cows on days 28, 58, 97 (approximately 20-day postpartum), 155, 210, and 279 for plasma glucose and non-esterified fatty acid (NEFA) determination. Chromium supplementation reduced (P<0.05) plasma glucose concentrations. Plasma glucose concentrations were also affected by breed × Cu bolus (P<0.05). In non-Cu supplemented cows, plasma glucose levels were higher (P<0.05) in Angus versus Simmental cows. In cows receiving a Cu bolus, plasma glucose levels were similar between breeds. Plasma NEFA concentrations were affected by time (P<0.01), Cr × Cu bolus (P<0.05), Cr × time (P<0.01), and Cr × block (P<0.01). On days 97 and 155, plasma NEFA concentrations were lower (P<0.01) in cows receiving Cr relative to control cows. Chromium supplementation reduced (P<0.01) plasma NEFA concentrations in 2 and 3 and 4 and 5-year-old cows but not in older cows, relative to control cows in those blocks. Chromium supplemented cows had lower (P<0.05) plasma NEFA concentrations than control cows that did not receive a Cu bolus. No differences in plasma NEFA concentrations occurred between treatments in cows that received a Cu bolus. At approximately 1-month prepartum and 1-month postpartum, 12 cows were cannulated in their jugular vein and glucose tolerance tests (GTT) were conducted. Cows used in GTT received 0.15 g of glucose/kg body weight as a 500 g/L dextrose solution. Chromium supplemented cows had lower plasma glucose (P<0.01), serum insulin (P<0.05) and NEFA (P<0.01) concentrations following the GTT conducted prepartum versus control cows. Clearance rates for glucose were not affected by treatment. In the postpartum GTT, plasma glucose was affected by an interaction between Cr supplementation and Cu status, as Cr supplemented cows that received a Cu bolus had higher (P<0.001) plasma glucose after glucose administration than cows not supplemented with Cu. No differences in plasma glucose occurred between control cows regardless of Cu status. Chromium supplemented cows had lower (P<0.05) serum insulin concentrations 10–45 min after glucose administration versus control cows. Results indicate that plasma glucose is lower in cows receiving supplemental Cr, and that an interaction between Cr and Cu status may alter glucose metabolism.