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Influence of Diet Composition and Mode of Copper Administration on the Response of Growing-Finishing Swine to Supplemental Copper

Cornell University^{2, 3,}, Ithaca, New York 14850

Abstract

THREE experiments involving a total of 64 Yorkshire pigs were completed to determine the response to high levels of copper administration to growing-finishing swine.

The addition of 250 ppm of copper to a balanced corn-soybean meal diet did not consistently affect the rate of body weight gain during the starter, grower, finisher or overall weaning-to-market periods in three experiments. Carcass length was greater and area of the longissimus muscle smaller in copper-supplemented pigs in one trial but there was no effect of copper supplementation of a corn-soybean meal diet on carcass measurements in two trials. The level of copper in the liver was increased and the level of iron decreased but hemoglobin, ceruloplasmin, plasma iron, plama zinc, plasma copper and liver zinc were not influenced by adding copper to corn-soybean meal diets.

The subcutaneous injection of 300 mg of copper during a 4-week period reduced body weight gain and hemoglobin but increased plasma copper and plasma ceruloplasmin levels.

Pigs fed dried skimmilk diets supplemented with 250 ppm of copper from weaning to slaughter weight developed a severe anemia, increased liver copper levels and decreased plasma and liver iron levels. Rate of body weight gain was unaffected but carcass fatness was increased compared with the mean for pigs fed a corn-soybean meal diet.

¹ Present address: Cargill Research Farm, Elk River Minnesota 53330.

² Department of Animal Science.

³ Appreciation is expressed to P. D. Miller, D. R. Van Campen, D. Kirtland, G. H. Wellington, J. R. Stouffer and W. R. C. White (or technical assistance and Ruth Whetzel for the stenographic work.