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Copper Sulfate in Steer Rations¹

Mississippi State University, State College 39762

Abstract

Average daily gains, feed efficiencies, and carcass yield and quality grades of steers were not affected by the level of copper sulfate fed (5.73 g/100 kg diet). Because bloat occurred in both treated and control steers, there would appear to be no beneficial effect from adding copper sulfate to fattening rations to prevent feedlot bloat. Since protozoa were present in the copper sulfate-treated steers, defaunation was incomplete. Partial defaunation by copper sulfate appeared to have no effect on nitrogen retention and DE of the ration. Partial defaunation by copper sulfate did not significantly influence either prefeeding or postfeeding VFA concentration; however, VFA concentration changes, between prefeeding and postfeeding, were decreased (P<.05) for acetic, propionic, butyric and total VFA. Copper sulfate may have slowed or prolonged the rate of VFA production. Mean protozoa counts for the copper sulfate-treated steers were noticeably lower than the control steers 2 hr. after feeding.

¹ Published with the approval of the Director of the Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station as Journal Paper No. 2229.

² Data taken from a thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for a Master of Science Degree at Mississippi State University.