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Effects of Supplemental Dietary Copper on Growth, Reproductive Performance and Kit Survival of Standard Dark Mink and the Acute Toxicity of Copper to Mink¹

Michigan State University², East Lansing 48824

Abstract

Natural dark mink kits were fed a diet supplemented with 0, 25, 50, 100 or 200 ppm Cu from CuSO₄•5H₂O for 153 or 357 d. The shorter term Cu supplementation had no significant beneficial or adverse effects on mink body weight gains or hemoglobin or hematocrit concentrations, although plasma Cu concentrations were slightly elevated in the mink fed added Cu. Liver Cu concentrations were significantly increased only in the mink fed 200 ppm Cu. Liver Zn and Fe concentrations were not affected by the added Cu. Darker fur was observed in pelted males fed the higher levels of Cu. The reproductive performance of mink on the longer term Cu supplementation was not adversely affected, although greater kit mortality and reduced "litter mass" were a result of the higher Cu concentrations. The acute (21-d) ip LD₅₀ concentrations of Cu sulfate and Cu acetate in adult mink were 7.5 and 5.0 mg/kg, respectively.

¹ Supported in part by the Mink Farmers' Research Foundation and the Heger Co., and published with the approval of the Michigan Agr. Exp. Sta. as Journal Article No. 9991.

² Dept. of Anim. Sci.