Long-term chromium picolinate supplementation improves colostrum profile of Santa Ines ewe Thiago F. V. Bompadre 1 & Débora B. Moretti 2 & Gabriel Z. Sakita 1 & Egon H. Ieda 1 & Maria I. V. Martinez 3 & Elisabete A. N. Fernandes 3 & Raul Machado-Neto 2 & Adibe L. Abdalla 1 & Helder Louvandini 1 Received: 13 December 2018 /Accepted: 24 April 2019 # Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature 2019 Abstract Chromium (Cr) is a micromineral that is involved in the metabolism of carbohydrates, lipids, ammonia, and nucleic acids; thus, its supplementation can influence the nutritional status of ruminants, and consequently, colostrum profile, since this secretion depends on products secreted by the mammary gland and elements of the maternal bloodstream. The present study investigated the influence of supplementation with Cr bound to organic molecule on the nutritional, immune, and antioxidant quality of ewe colostrum. Thirty-two multiparous Santa Ines ewes (55.3 ± 8.00 kg body weight) were randomly assigned into four groups: T1 (0.0 mg of chromium picolinate (CrPic) supplementation per ewe, n = 8), T2 (0.15 mg of CrPic per ewe, n = 9), T3 (0.30 mg of CrPic per ewe, n = 7), and T4 (0.45 mg of CrPic per ewe, n = 8). Supplementation was supplied during the breeding season, pregnancy, and lactation. Shortly after calving, the first milking colostrum was collected to determine its chemical composition, activity of lysozyme, lactoperoxidase, ceruloplasmin, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, and oxygen radical absorbance capacity. The results show that lactoperoxidase activity decreased with CrPic supplementation (P < 0.01), revealing that this micromineral reduces an important component of defense mechanism in the body. Therefore, the results of this work show that supplemen- tation with chromium picolinate influences colostrum quality. Keywords Antioxidants . Chemical composition . Chrome . Milk secretion . Ovine Introduction The supplementation of chromium (Cr) in the diet of animals and humans is still quite controversial [1]. There are some evidences that Cr is involved in the metabolism of carbohy- drates, lipids, ammonia, and nucleic acids, and its deficiency impairs growth and results in hyperglycemia, hypercholester- olemia, and hyperlipidemia [2]. Supplementation with chro- mium picolinate (CrPic), a trivalent Cr bound to organic mol- ecule with low toxicity, has shown positive results in carcass traits of swine and broiler chicks increasing muscle mass and decreasing fat deposition [3, 4]. Lien et al. [5] also observed a decrease in serum cholesterol, triglycerides and urea, as well as improved performance and carcass traits of swine supple- mented with CrPic. Dietary use of a chromium–methionine (CrMet) supplement improved dry matter intake, milk fat, protein, and total solids yields on early lactation Holstein cows under high ambient temperatures [6]. In ruminants due to placenta type (cotyledonary/ epitheliochorial), only after birth occurs the transference of the maternal antibodies to the lamb with the colostrum intake. Newborn ruminants rely on antibodies that are mobilized from maternal bloodstream during pregnancy to colostrum to en- sure health in the first week of life [7]. These macromolecules are responsible for protecting newborns against infections and diseases while their immune system is being stimulated for the regular production of antibodies [8, 9]. Colostrum quality, characterized by immunoglobulin concentration, depends on age, breed, number of parities, and nutrition [10, 11]. In addition to immunoglobulin, colostrum has other pro- teins, including casein, albumin, lactoferrin, α-lactalbumin, and β-lactoglobulin [12]. Proteins with antioxidant activities, * Helder Louvandini louvandini@cena.usp.br 1 Animal Science Laboratory, Center for Nuclear Energy in Agriculture, University of Sao Paulo, 303, Centenario Avenue, 13416-000, Piracicaba, Sao Paulo, Brazil 2 Animal Science Department, Luiz de Queiroz College of Agriculture, University of Sao Paulo, 11, Padua Dias Avenue, Piracicaba, Sao Paulo, Brazil 3 Radioisotopes Laboratory, Centre for Nuclear Energy in Agriculture, University of Sao Paulo, 303, Centenario Avenue, Piracicaba, Sao Paulo, Brazil Biological Trace Element Research https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-019-01741-3