Growth response, blood characteristics and copper accumulation in organs of broilers fed on diets supplemented with organic and inorganic dietary copper sources

Abstract

1. A 56-d experiment was conducted to study the comparative influence of organic and inorganic dietary copper (Cu) sources on growth, blood characteristics and copper accumulation in organs of broilers. 2. A total of 480 Arbor-Acre unsexed broilers were fed on diets containing copper sulphate (CuSO(4)) or copper proteinate (Cu Pro) at concentrations of 50, 100 or 150 mg/kg of Cu supplementation. The birds were given a broiler starter diet from 1-28 d and a broiler finisher diet from 29-56 d which contained 30·8 mg/kg and 41·1 mg/kg basal copper concentration respectively. Growth performance, blood characteristics and Cu accumulation in organs of the broilers were measured. 3. At 28 d, Cu Pro-fed birds had improved feed conversion ratio compared with CuSO(4). At 56 d, birds fed on Cu Pro diets had significantly greater body weight than CuSO(4)-fed birds. Birds fed on CuSO(4) supplemented diets had significantly better feed conversion efficiency. Feed consumptions for the two Cu sources were not significantly different. At no stage did the concentration of added Cu affect the productive traits measured. 4. Cu Pro supplementation increased haemoglobin concentration but reduced plasma triglyceride and plasma cholesterol. Plasma cholesterol decreased as Cu concentration increased. 5. There was a greater accumulation of Cu in the blood, heart, lung, liver and bone of broilers fed on Cu Pro than in those receiving CuSO(4). The liver Cu concentration increased as dietary Cu concentration increased. 6. Cu Pro was more effective in promoting growth and reducing blood cholesterol, and was more bio-available in the organs of broilers.

Effect of different levels of copper nanoparticles and copper sulphate on performance, metabolism and blood biochemical profiles in broiler chicken

“…Many studies (Jegede, Oduguwa, Bamgbose, Fanimo, & Nollet, ; Kumar et al., ; Payvastegan, Farhoomand, & Delfani, ; Samanta, Biswas, & Ghosh, ; Zahedi, Ghalehkandi, Ebrahimnezhad, & Emami, ) have shown a reduction in cholesterol levels after adding Cu to poultry diets, which is in agreement with our results. This can be explained, in that adding higher levels of Cu will regulate cholesterol biosynthesis indirectly by decreasing the reduced form of glutathione and increasing the oxidised form of glutathione (Bakalli, Pesti, Ragland, & Konjufca, ; Kim, Chao, & Allen, ).…”

Scientific Opinion on the safety and efficacy of copper compounds (E4) as feed additives for all species: cupric chelate of amino acids hydrate, based on a dossier submitted by Zinpro Animal Nutrition Inc.

“…Similarly, no difference in muscle copper concentrations in ewes was found when copper was given in the form of sulphate or chelated amino acid hydrate (Pal et al, 2010). The overall equivalent bioavailability of copper from both sources in terms of copper deposition is also supported by data from the tibia in chickens for fattening (Bao et al, 2007;Jegede et al, 2011).…”

“…Similarly, studies using a copper dose of 8 mg/kg feed (Ao et al, 2009;Aksu et al, 2010) from copper sulphate or from chelated amino acid hydrate did not result in a different pattern of copper liver deposition in chickens for fattening. Only in the study of Jegede et al (2011), in which broilers' diet was supplemented with copper at with copper supplementation levels of 50, 100 and 150 mg copper from copper sulphate or from chelated amino acid hydrate, did the highest element dose result in significantly higher copper liver deposition independent of source. However, this level of copper feed supplementation (150 mg/kg) exceeds by six times the maximum EU authorised total copper level in complete feed.…”

“…Petrovič et al (2010) supplemented the diet with 0, 2.5 or 5 mg Cu/kg feed while Jegede et al (2011) supplied chickens for fattening with supranutritional copper levels (50, 100 and 150 mg Cu/kg) from copper sulphate and chelated amino acid hydrate. Neither study found any differences in tissue deposition between the sources.…”

Growth rate, metabolic parameters and carcass quality in turkeys fed diets with different inclusion levels and sources of supplemental copper

“…In laying hens, the Cu content per kg of excreta dry matter (DM) increased from 25.3 to 397 mg/kg when the basal diet was supplemented with CuSO 4 (Cu-SUL) at 0 and 240 mg/kg (Skřivan et al, 2006). In many experiments it was demonstrated that organic trace elements, including amino acid chelates, increase nutrient bioavailability (Leeson and Caston, 2008;Jegede et al, 2011) and decrease faecal nutrient losses (Mikulski et al, 2009). Amino acid chelates are absorbed from the intestines at a significantly higher rate than soluble inorganic metal salts, but their supplementation is often difficult and not economically viable (Andersen, 2004).…”