- The FDA’s Center for Veterinary Medicine has approved the use of chromium propionate in diets for broiler breeder chickens and laying hens, supported by research conducted by Kemin Industries.
- Kemin says KemTRACE Chromium is currently the only FDA-reviewed source of chromium propionate available in the animal nutrition market.
- Chromium propionate is now approved for use in swine, broiler chickens, cattle, horses, growing turkeys, broiler breeder chickens and laying hens.
- Research cited by Kemin suggests chromium supplementation may support glucose metabolism, stress response and production performance.
- In an 84-day study, supplemented broiler breeders demonstrated increased egg production without significant changes in fertility or hatchability.
- Kemin manufactures KemTRACE Chromium at its Des Moines, Iowa, facility, which holds FSSC 22000 certification.
Kemin Industries has announced an expansion of the approved uses of its KemTRACE Chromium feed ingredient following U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) review of chromium propionate for inclusion in broiler breeder chicken and laying hen diets.
The regulatory development broadens the ingredient’s applications in poultry nutrition and adds two production categories to an existing list of approved uses that includes swine, broiler chickens, cattle, horses and growing turkeys.
According to Kemin, KemTRACE Chromium is currently the only FDA-reviewed source of chromium propionate available in the animal nutrition and health market.
The company said the expanded authorization builds on more than three decades of research into the role of chromium supplementation in animal metabolism, stress response and production performance.
Chromium Supplementation and Animal Metabolism
KemTRACE Chromium is an organic source of chromium propionate formulated for use in animal feed.
Chromium is associated with insulin function and glucose metabolism, processes that influence how animals utilize nutrients for growth, maintenance and production.
Kemin says its chromium propionate ingredient supports insulin sensitivity and glucose utilization, potentially helping animals maintain metabolic function during periods of physiological or environmental stress.
The company also cited research suggesting chromium supplementation may reduce cortisol concentrations under certain conditions.
Cortisol is a hormone involved in the physiological stress response, and elevated concentrations can be associated with challenges affecting animal health and productivity.
Stressors such as extreme temperatures, dietary changes and disease exposure can influence metabolic demands in livestock and poultry.
However, the magnitude and consistency of responses to chromium supplementation may vary depending on species, production stage, dietary formulation and environmental conditions.
Poultry Research Supports Expanded Applications
Kemin cited recent feeding studies evaluating chromium propionate supplementation in broiler breeder chickens and laying hens.
In an 84-day study conducted during peak production, broiler breeders receiving KemTRACE Chromium demonstrated increased egg production compared with the study’s comparison group.
The company reported that supplementation did not significantly affect fertility or hatchability during the evaluation period.
A separate 112-day study examined supplementation in laying hens during peak production.
According to Kemin, supplemented laying hens maintained egg quality and livability throughout the study, supporting consistent production performance.
The company said the studies also evaluated safety at supplementation levels above the minimum concentrations associated with improved insulin sensitivity.
The findings provide additional evidence supporting chromium propionate’s use in poultry diets, although the company did not provide detailed effect sizes or complete study results in its announcement.
Kemin Builds on Three Decades of Chromium Research
Kemin has invested more than 30 years in research supporting chromium propionate as a feed ingredient across multiple animal species.
Kristi Krafka, vice president of regulatory affairs and quality assurance for Kemin Animal Nutrition and Health – North America, said the expanded authorization will allow the company to make KemTRACE Chromium available to additional producers, nutritionists and veterinarians.
Jerry Spears, PhD, professor emeritus at North Carolina State University, also highlighted the growing research base supporting chromium supplementation in livestock and poultry.
Spears, who has collaborated with Kemin on chromium research, said the addition of broiler breeder chickens and laying hens expands opportunities to evaluate the ingredient’s role in poultry health and performance.
The latest regulatory development extends the commercial reach of KemTRACE Chromium into additional poultry production segments.
Manufacturing and Quality Assurance
KemTRACE Chromium is manufactured at Kemin’s facility in Des Moines, Iowa.
The company reports that the facility holds Food Safety System Certification (FSSC) 22000, an internationally recognized food safety management certification benchmarked by the Global Food Safety Initiative.
The certification provides a framework for food safety management, manufacturing controls and supply chain oversight.
Kemin operates globally, supplying specialty ingredients to the animal nutrition, pet food, aquaculture, human nutrition and related industries.
Founded in 1961, the privately held company employs more than 4,000 people and serves customers in more than 120 countries.
Implications for Poultry Nutrition
The expanded approval creates additional opportunities for poultry nutritionists and producers to incorporate chromium propionate into diets for breeding and egg-laying flocks.
Potential applications include supporting metabolic efficiency and maintaining production performance during periods of elevated physiological demand.
The company’s research suggests possible production benefits, particularly in broiler breeders, but results will depend on feeding conditions and the specific outcomes being evaluated.
For animal nutrition professionals, the regulatory milestone adds another approved nutritional ingredient option for poultry production systems.
Additional product information is available through Kemin’s KemTRACE Chromium website.
Information sourced from Kemin Industries’ October 14, 2026, press release.
