Growth performance and concentration of copper in the visceral organs of broiler chickens fed diets with supplemental inorganic and organic copper sources

Abstract

A 56-day experiment was conducted to measure the bioavailability of Cu from inorganic and organic copper chelates in broiler chickens. The experiment involved a total of four hundred (400) one- day old broiler chicks randomly allotted to eight (8) dietary treatments consisting of five replicates each and 10 birds per replicates in a 2 x 4 factorial arrangement, the treatment comprised of 2 trace mineral sources: Organic copper chelate and Inorganic copper. The birds were given a broiler starter diet and finisher diet which contained 31.2 mg/kg and 42.1 mg/kg basal copper concentration respectively. Growth performance, nutrient utilization, blood parameters and concentration of copper in excreta, bone and tissues were evaluated as response criteria in the experiment. All data obtained were subjected to Analysis of Variance in a Completely Randomized Design. At the finisher phase, birds fed on Organic Cu chelate had significantly (p<0.05) greater body weight 2020g/bird than inorganic copper fed birds. There was a greater accumulation of Cu in the blood, heart, lung, liver and bone of broilers fed the Organic Cu chelate than in those receiving inorganic salts. The liver Cu concentration increased (p<0.05) as dietary Cu concentration increased. The study concluded that Organic Cu chelate was more bioavailable compared with those from inorganic salts., it was more effective in promoting growth and was more bioavailable in the organs of broiler chickens.