Journal of Animal Science, Vol 75, Issue 11 3057-3065, Copyright © 1997 by American Society of Animal Science

JOURNAL ARTICLE

Long-term effects of consumption of low-copper diets with or without supplemental molybdenum on copper status, performance, and carcass characteristics of cattle

J. D. Ward and J. W. Spears
Department of Animal Science and Interdepartmental Nutrition Program, North Carolina State University, Raleigh 27695-2761, USA.

We used 42 Angus bull calves (7 mo of age) to determine long-term effects of low Cu diets with or without supplemental Mo on performance, carcass characteristics, and Cu status. Twenty-two bulls were injected with 90 mg of Cu 28 d before weaning. After weaning, injected steers were fed a diet supplemented with 7.5 mg of Cu/kg of DM; control steers received no supplemental Cu. At the end of the 40-d receiving phase, supplemental Cu was reduced to 5 mg/kg of DM. One half of the steers in each group were fed 5 mg of supplemental Mo/kg of DM following the receiving phase. The growing phase lasted 196 d. Steers were then switched to a high concentrate finishing diet for 49 d. Copper injection increased (P < .01) plasma Cu concentrations at weaning, and Cu-supplemented steers had greater (P < .05) plasma Cu, ceruloplasmin, superoxide dismutase activity (SOD), and liver Cu at the beginning of the growing phase. Supplemental Mo depressed plasma Cu, ceruloplasmin, and SOD during the growing and finishing phases in non-Cu-supplemented but not in Cu-supplemented steers. Copper supplementation increased DMI during the receiving (P < .05) and growing (P < .08) phases and increased (P < .08) ADG and gain:feed ratios during the finishing phase. Steers fed supplemental Cu produced carcasses with less (P < .06) backfat and slightly larger (P < .09) rib eye areas. The results of this experiment suggest that dietary Cu concentrations may alter cattle performance and carcass characteristics.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				K. A. Cummins, S. G. Solaiman, and W. G. Bergen The effect of dietary copper supplementation on fatty acid profile and oxidative stability of adipose depots in Boer x Spanish goats J Anim Sci, February 1, 2008; 86(2): 390 - 396. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. L. Hansen, P. Schlegel, L. R. Legleiter, K. E. Lloyd, and J. W. Spears Bioavailability of copper from copper glycinate in steers fed high dietary sulfur and molybdenum J Anim Sci, January 1, 2008; 86(1): 173 - 179. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				L. R. Legleiter and J. W. Spears Plasma diamine oxidase: A biomarker of copper deficiency in the bovine J Anim Sci, September 1, 2007; 85(9): 2198 - 2204. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. G. Solaiman, C. E. Shoemaker, W. R. Jones, and C. R. Kerth The effects of high levels of supplemental copper on the serum lipid profile, carcass traits, and carcass composition of goat kids J Anim Sci, January 1, 2006; 84(1): 171 - 177. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S.J. Picco, M.C. Abba, G.A. Mattioli, L.E. Fazzio, D. Rosa, J.C. De Luca, and F.N. Dulout Association between copper deficiency and DNA damage in cattle Mutagenesis, November 1, 2004; 19(6): 453 - 456. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. H. Lee, T. E. Engle, and K. L. Hossner Effects of dietary copper on the expression of lipogenic genes and metabolic hormones in steers J Anim Sci, July 1, 2002; 80(7): 1999 - 2005. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]