Influence of dietary copper supplementation on growth performance, blood profile and carcass characteristics of broiler chicken

Abstract

A 56-day trial was conducted to investigate the influence of dietary copper methionine (Cu-M)
supplementation on the growth performance, blood profile and carcass characteristics of broiler
chickens. A total of 180 arbor acre chicks were allotted into four dietary treatments of 45 birds each.
Each treatment group was further subdivided into three replicates of 15 birds per replicate in a
completely randomized design. Cu-M was incorporated at varying levels of; 0, 10, 20 and 30 ppm to
formulate four dietary treatments Data were collected on growth performance, haematological, serum
biochemical indices and carcass characteristics. Results revealed that dietary Cu-M supplementation
significantly (P<0.05) influenced the average daily feed intake and feed conversion ratio (FCR) of the
broiler chicken. Cu-M supplementation significantly (P<0.05) influenced FCR values across the
dietary treatments. Birds fed 30 ppm Cu-M supplementation had the lowest FCR values (2.17). Dietary
Cu-M supplementation had no significant (P>0.05) influence on all the serum biochemical indices.
Cu-M supplementation did not significantly (P>0.05) influence the haematological indices except the
haemoglobin (Hb) and white blood cell (WBC) values. The Hb concentration of the birds fed Cu-M
supplemental diet was significantly (P<0.05) higher when compared with those birds on control diet.
The WBC count varied (26.64 – 30.89 × 106/mm3) significantly (P<0.05) across the dietary treatments.
Dietary Cu-M supplementation had no significant (P> 0.05) effect on carcass characteristics. It can be
concluded from this study that dietary Cu-M supplementation up to 30 ppm can substantially improve
the feed utilization of broiler chickens.