Supported chromium oxide polymerization catalysts can impart significant levels of long chain branching (LCB) to polyethylene made in a slurry process. LCB often dominates the rheological behavior of the polymer, and is thus responsible for the performance of many HDPE grades during commercial molding operations. LCB is difficult to accurately measure but its presence can be inferred from the visco-elastic character of the polymer, relative to its molecular weight (MW) and MW distribution. Depending on catalyst choice, LCB levels from chromium oxide catalysts can range from near zero to very high, rivaling the tightly bridged metallocenes.