RESUMO -Um experimento foi conduzido para avaliar altos níveis dietéticos de Cu orgânico e inorgânico, respectivamente, citrato cúprico (C 6 H 4 Cu 2 O 7 ) e sulfato de Cu (CuSO 4 .5H 2 O) como promotores do crescimento de leitões recém-desmamados, alimentados com dieta complexa. Foram utilizados 80 leitões mestiços (40 machos castrados e 40 fêmeas), com peso médio inicial 6,85 kg e 21 ± 2 dias de idade para testar cinco tratamentos. Os tratamentos consistiram em uma dieta basal (controle) de milho, farelo de soja, lactose, leite desnatado em pó e plasma suíno desidratado, ou a dieta basal suplementada com 200 ppm de Cu inorgânico (sulfato de Cu), ou 50, 100 e 150 ppm de Cu (citrato cúprico). A dieta basal foi suplementada com 2.500 ppm de Zn (ZnO), durante os primeiros 14 dias de período experimental. Os leitões foram alojados em 20 baias metálicas suspensas (1,50 x 1,20 m), que foram limpas, desinfetadas e mantidas sem uso por 90 dias antes do experimento. A ração e a água foram fornecidas à vontade durante todo o período experimental de 28 dias. Foi utilizado o delineamento em blocos completos casualizados com cinco tratamentos, quatro repetições por tratamento e quatro leitões (dois machos castrados e duas fêmeas) por baia (unidade experimental). Os altos níveis dietéticos de Cu não afetaram o ganho diário de peso, o consumo diário e a conversão alimentar dos leitões. Portanto, os altos níveis dietéticos de Cu orgânico (citrato cúprico) e inorgânico (sulfato de Cu) não mostraram qualquer efeito promotor do crescimento em leitões recém-desmamados, alimentados com dieta complexa numa creche limpa.Palavras-chave: citrato cúprico, cobre orgânico, cobre inorgânico, creche, dieta complexa, promotor do crescimento, sulfato de cobre Organic and Inorganic Copper as Growth Promoters of Weanling PigsABSTRACT -An experiment was carried out to evaluate high dietary levels of organic and inorganic Cu, respectively, cupric citrate (C 6 H 4 Cu 2 O 7 ) and Cu sulfate (CuSO 4 .5H 2 O) as growth promoters of weanling pigs fed complex diet. Eighty crossbred weanling pigs (40 castrated males and 40 females), averaging 6.85 kg initial weight and 21 ± 2 days of age, were assigned to five treatments. The treatments consisted in a basal diet (control) of corn, soybean meal, lactose, dried skim milk and spray dried porcine plasma meal, or the basal diet supplemented with 200 ppm of inorganic Cu (Cu sulfate), or 50, 100, and 150 ppm of organic Cu (cupric citrate). The basal diet was supplemented with 2,500 ppm of Zn (ZnO) during the first 14 days of experimental period. Pigs were housed in 20 elevated metal pens (1.50 x 1.20 m), which were cleaned, disinfected and kept unused for 90 days before the experiment. Feed and water were given ad libitum during all 28-day experimental period. A randomized complete block design was used with five treatments, four replications per treatment, and four pigs (two castrated males and two females) per pen (experimental unit). High dietary levels of copper did not affect average daily gain, daily fee...

An experiment was conducted to evaluate high dietary leveis of organic and inorganic Cu, respectively, cupric citrate and copper sulfate, as growth promoters of weanling pigs fed complex diet. Eighty crossbred weanling pigs (40 castrated males and 40 females), averaging 6,85 kg initial weight and 21± 2 days of age, were assigned to 5 treatments in a randomized complete block design based on genetic group, sex and live weight. The treatments consisted in a basal diet of corn soybean meal, lactose, dried skim milk and spray dried porcine plasma meal ( control), or the basal diet containing 200 ppm of inorganic Cu (as Cu SO 4 .5H 2 O), or 50, 100 and 150 ppm of organic Cu (as C 6 H 4 Cu 2 O 7 ). The basal diet was supplemented with 2500 ppm of Zn (as ZnO) during the first 14 days of experimental period. Pigs were housed in 20 pens with 4 pigs (2 castrated males and 2 females) per pen (experimental unit)and 4 replications per treatment. Feed and water were given ad libitum to pigs during ali 28-day experimental period. Pigs were weighed individually and the d p. ta of feed intake/pen were X registered every week. Average daily garn, daily feed intake and feed conversion were not affected (P > 0,05) by high dietary leveis of copper. Therefore, high dietary leveis of organic, as cupric citrate, and inorganic, as copper sulfate, did not show any growth promoter effect on weanling pigs fed complex diet.