Effects of dietary copper on nutrient digestibility, tissular copper deposition and fur quality of growing-furring mink (Mustela vison)

Sources and levels of copper affect liver copper profile, intestinal morphology and cecal microbiota population of broiler chickens fed wheat-soybean meal diets

Super dosing copper (Cu) has long been used as an alternative to antibiotic growth-promoters in broiler chickens' diet to improve gut health. This study was designed to compare nutritional and growth-promoting levels of Cu hydroxychloride (CH) with CuSO4 on gut health bio-markers and liver mineral profile of broiler chickens. Ross 308 chicks (n = 864) were randomly assigned to eight treatments, as basal diet containing no supplemental Cu; the basal diet with 15 or 200 mg/kg Cu as CuSO4; or 15, 50, 100, 150 or 200 mg/kg Cu from CH. The highest liver Cu content was observed in birds fed the diets with 200 mg/kg CuSO4 (P < 0.01). Serum FITC-d concentration as the leaky gut marker, and liver malondialdehyde concentration were not affected. Copper level or source had no effect on cecal short chain fatty acid and the mRNA expression of five jejunal genes involved in gut integrity. Negative linear responses of Cu were observed on Lactobacillus (P = 0.032), Bacteroides (P = 0.033), and Enterobacteriaceae (P = 0.028) counts. The jejunal villus height increased in birds fed CH at 200 and 100 mg/kg (P < 0.05). Increasing Cu levels, linearly and quadratically (P < 0.001), increased Cu excretion.

Eucommia ulmoides Flavones as Potential Alternatives to Antibiotic Growth Promoters in a Low-Protein Diet Improve Growth Performance and Intestinal Health in Weaning Piglets

Eucommia ulmoides flavones (EUF) have been demonstrated to attenuate the inflammation and oxidative stress of piglets. This study aimed to test whether EUF could be used as an alternative antibiotic growth promoter to support growth performance and maintain intestinal health in weanling piglets. Weaned piglets (n = 480) were assigned into three groups and fed with a low-protein basal diet (NC), or supplementation with antibiotics (PC) or 0.01% EUF (EUF). Blood, intestinal contents, and intestine were collected on days 15 and 35 after weaning. The results showed the PC and EUF supplementations increased (p < 0.05) body weight on day 35, average daily gain and gain: feed ratio from day 15 to day 35 and day 0 to day 35, whereas decreased (p < 0.05) the diarrhea index of weanling piglets. EUF treatment increased (p < 0.05) jejunal villus height: crypt depth ratio, jejunal and ileal villus height, and population of ileal lactic acid bacteria on day 15 but decreased (p < 0.05) the population of ileal coliform bacteria on day 15 and day 35. These findings indicated the EUF, as the potential alternative to in-feed antibiotic growth promoter, could improve growth performance and intestinal morphology, and decrease colonization of coliform bacteria and diarrhea index in weanling piglets.

Effects of Copper Sources and Levels on Lipid Profiles, Immune Parameters, Antioxidant Defenses, and Trace Element Residues in Broilers

The study was conducted to investigate the effects of copper sources and levels on lipid profiles, immune parameters, antioxidant defenses, and trace element contents of meat and liver in Arbor Acres broilers. A total of 504 male broilers were randomly divided into 7 groups with 6 replicates per group and 12 broilers per replicate. The experiment was used in a 3 × 2 + 1 factorial experiment design; broilers in the control group were fed a basal diet, and broilers in the other six groups were fed basal diets supplemented with 3 sources (copper sulfate, tribasic copper chloride, and copper methionate) and 2 levels (10 and 20 mg/kg). The results showed that the levels of cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol in broilers were significantly decreased with the increase of dietary copper level (P < 0.05). Serum IL-6 and IgA contents, ceruloplasmin and GSH-Px activities, and liver copper contents of broilers increased significantly with dietary copper levels (P < 0.05). Compared with the control group, dietary copper supplementation significantly decreased serum cholesterol (P < 0.05) and significantly increased serum IL-6, ceruloplasmin, SOD, GSH-Px, and liver copper (P < 0.05). Dietary supplementation of basic copper chloride and copper methionate significantly decreased low-density lipoprotein cholesterol content and liver iron content (P < 0.05). In conclusion, dietary copper supplementation can effectively reduce serum cholesterol content and improve immune and antioxidant functions in broilers. Adding 20 mg/kg copper to broiler diet can increase the copper content in the liver, but it will not affect the copper content in the chicken.

Influence of Dietary Copper Methionine Concentrations on Growth Performance, Digestibility of Nutrients, Serum Lipid Profiles, and Immune Defenses in Broilers

A 42-day experiment was conducted to evaluate the influence of dietary copper (Cu) concentrations on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, and serum parameters in broilers aged from 1 to 42 days. Five hundred forty 1-day-old broilers were randomly assigned into 1 of the following 6 dietary treatments: (1) control (basal diet without supplemental Cu), (2) 15 mg/kg supplemental Cu (Cu15), (3) 30 mg/kg supplemental Cu (Cu30), (4) 60 mg/kg supplemental Cu (Cu60), (5) 120 mg/kg supplemental Cu (Cu120), and (6) 240 mg/kg supplemental Cu (Cu240), Cu as copper methionine. A 4-day metabolism trial was conducted during the last week of the experiment feeding. The results showed that dietary Cu supplementation increased the average daily gain and the average daily feed intake (P < 0.01). The feed gain ratio, however, was not affected by dietary Cu (P > 0.10). Additionally, dietary Cu supplementation increased the digestibility of fat and energy (P < 0.05). The concentration of serum cholesterol, triglycerides, and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol decreased with dietary Cu supplementation (P < 0.05). The activities of serum Cu-Zn superoxide dismutase (P < 0.05), glutathione peroxidase (P < 0.05), and ceruloplasmin (P = 0.09), on the contrary, were increased by Cu addition. For immune indexes, dietary Cu supplementation increased serum IgA and IgM (P < 0.05). In addition, the activities of serum ALT increased with increasing dietary Cu supplementation (P < 0.05). In conclusion, our data suggest that Cu supplementation can increase fat digestibility and promote growth. Additionally, dietary Cu supplementation can reduce serum cholesterol and enhance antioxidant capacity in broilers.

Effects of sources and concentrations of zinc on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, and fur quality of growing-furring female mink (Mustela vison)

A completely randomized 3 × 3 + 1 factorial experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of sources and concentrations of Zn on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, serum biochemical endpoints, and fur quality in growing-furring female black mink. One hundred fifty healthy 15-wk-old female mink were randomly allocated to 10 dietary treatments ( = 15/group) for a 60-d trial. Animals in the control group were fed a basal diet, which consisted of mainly corn, soybean oil, meat and bone meal, and fish meal, with no Zn supplementation. Mink in the other 9 treatments were fed the basal diet supplemented with Zn from either zinc sulfate (ZnSO), zinc glycinate (ZnGly), or Zn pectin oligosaccharides (ZnPOS) at concentrations of either 100, 300, or 900 mg Zn/kg DM. The results showed that mink in the ZnPOS groups had higher ADG than those in the ZnSO groups (main effect, < 0.05). The addition of Zn reduced the G:F ( < 0.05). In addition, CP and crude fat digestibility were linearly increased with Zn supplementation ( < 0.05) and N retention tended to increase with Zn addition ( = 0.08). Dietary Zn supplementation increased the concentration of serum albumin and activity of alkaline phosphatase ( < 0.05). There was a linear effect of dietary Zn on the concentration of tibia Zn and pancreatic Zn ( < 0.05). For fur quality characteristics, the fur density and hair color of mink were improved by dietary Zn concentration ( < 0.05). Compared with ZnSO (100%), relative bioavailability values of ZnGly were 115 and 118%, based on tibia and pancreatic Zn, respectively, and relative bioavailability values of ZnPOS were 152 and 142%, respectively. In conclusion, this study demonstrates that Zn supplementation can promote growth and increase nutrient digestibility and fur quality and that ZnPOS is more bioavailable than ZnSO and ZnGly in growing-furring female mink.

First description of Cryptosporidium ubiquitum XIIa subtype family in farmed fur animals

This study investigated the prevalence of Cryptosporidium in farmed fur animals in the Czech Republic and Poland. A total of 480 faecal samples were collected from fur animals, including 300 American mink (Mustela vison), 60 silver foxes (Vulpes vulpes), 50 long-tailed chinchillas (Chinchilla lanigera), and 70 nutrias (Myocastor coypus), at 14 farms. Samples were examined for the presence of Cryptosporidium using microscopy (following aniline-carbol-methyl violet staining) and sequence analysis of PCR amplified products. Three mink and two chinchillas from two different farms tested positive for Cryptosporidium ubiquitum DNA. The presence of C. ubiquitum DNA was not associated with diarrhoea. Subtyping of C. ubiquitum isolates by sequence analysis of the 60-kDa glycoprotein gene showed that isolates belonged to the XIIa subtype family, which was previously restricted to humans and ruminants. This suggests that C. ubiquitum subtype XIIa has a broader host range than previously reported.

Effects of Dietary Copper and Zinc Supplementation on Growth Performance, Tissue Mineral Retention, Antioxidant Status, and Fur Quality in Growing-Furring Blue Foxes (Alopex lagopus)

A 4×2 factorial experiment with four supplemental levels of copper (0, 20, 40, or 60 mg copper per kg dry matter) from copper sulfate and two supplemental levels of zinc (40 or 200 mg zinc per kg dry matter) from zinc sulfate was conducted to investigate the effects of dietary copper and zinc supplementation on growth performance, tissue mineral retention, antioxidant status, and fur quality in growing-furring blue foxes. One hundred and twenty healthy 15-week-old male blue foxes were randomly allocated to eight dietary treatments with 15 replicates per treatment for a 70-day trial from mid-September to pelting in December. The average daily gain and feed conversion ratio were increased with copper supplementation in the first 35 days as well as the overall period (P<0.05). In addition, copper supplementation tended to increase feed intake during the first 35 days (P<0.10). Diets supplemented with 200 mg/kg zinc did not affect body gain (P>0.10) and feed intake (P>0.10) but improved feed conversion (P<0.05) compared with those supplemented 40 mg/kg zinc throughout the experiment. No copper×zinc interaction was observed for growth performance except that a tendency (P=0.09) was found for feed intake in the first 35 days. Supplementation of copper or zinc improved crude fat digestibility (P<0.01) but had no effects on the digestibility of other nutrients. Fecal copper was increased with both copper (P<0.01) and zinc addition (P<0.05). However, fecal zinc was affected only by dietary zinc addition (P<0.01). Mineral contents in serum and kidney were not affected by dietary treatments (P>0.05). However, the level of copper in the liver was increased with copper supplementation (P<0.05) and tended to decrease with zinc supplementation (P=0.08). Dietary zinc addition tended to increase the activity of alkaline phosphatase (P=0.07). The activities of copper-zinc superoxide dismutase and catalase tended to increase by copper (P=0.08) and zinc addition (P=0.05). Moreover, a copper×zinc interaction was observed for catalase in the experiment (P<0.05). Serum malondialdehyde concentration decreased with the increasing of dietary copper and zinc levels (P<0.05). The activity of glutathione peroxidase tended to increase by copper addition (P=0.09). For fur quality, foxes fed diets supplemented with high copper had larger skin length and darker pelts than those fed the basal diet without copper addition (P<0.05). In conclusion, this study demonstrated that dietary copper and zinc supplementation can improve growth by increasing feed intake and improving fat digestibility. Additionally, copper and zinc can enhance the antioxidant capacity of blue foxes. This study also indicates that additional zinc up to 200 mg/kg did not exert significant adverse effects on the copper metabolism of growing-furring blue foxes.

Nutrient digestibility and colonic fermentation processes in species of the families Mustelidae and Canidae fed the same diet

Nutrient digestibility was compared and the influence of colonic fermentation processes on nutrient digestibility was determined in the American mink (Neovison vison) and the silver fox (Vulpes vulpes). It was hypothesized that gut microbiota exert varied effects on digestion processes in the analyzed species. The experiment was performed in December, on a group of 10 male mink and 10 male foxes. All animals were fed identical diets for fur-bearing carnivores, with the following chemical composition (%): dry matter (DM)-33.12, total protein (TP)-12.01, ether extract (EE)-8.64, crude fiber (CF)-12.01, N-free extracts (N-FE)-9.32, and gross energy (GE)-7.313 MJ/kg(-1) . The coefficients of DM, OM, TP and EE digestibility were significantly higher in foxes than in mink. Mink were characterized by significantly higher utilization of N-FE. In foxes, as compared with mink, fermentation rates were higher in the final section of the gastrointestinal tract, which improved nutrient digestibility. In mink, characterized by lower fermentation rates in the colon, increased enzyme secretion by bacterial cells is one of the physiological mechanisms that enable to optimize nutrient absorption in the large intestine.

Effects of dietary methionine supplementation on growth performance of cubs, nutrient digestibility, nitrogen metabolism and serum biochemical indicators of female blue foxes (Alopex lagopus)

The objective of the present study was to investigate the effects of methionine (Met) supplementation on growth performance of cubs, nutrient digestibility, nitrogen metabolism and serum biochemical parameters of female blue foxes. One hundred primiparous female blue foxes that were similar in breeding date, pedigree, age, and weight were selected for the trial. The foxes were randomly assigned to four groups (n = 25 each group) and fed diets supplemented with Met at 2 (Met2), 4 (Met4), 6 (Met6) and 8 g/kg (Met8), respectively, for 40 days. Our data showed that body weights at 20 and 40 d were significantly higher in the Met4 group than in the Met2 group (P < 0.05). The Met4 group also had the highest apparent digestibility of dry matter and crude protein compared with either the Met2, Met6, or Met8 group (P < 0.05). The serum Met and isoleucine (Ile) concentrations were significantly higher in the Met4 group than in the Met6 or Met8 group (P < 0.05). In summary, these data indicate that supplementary Met improves growth performance of cubs likely due to increased crude protein and dry matter and increased nitrogen retention of female blue foxes. The optimal amount of Met supplementation is 10 g/kg basal diet.

Influence of dietary zinc and copper on apparent mineral retention and serum biochemical indicators in young male mink (Mustela vison)

An experiment was conducted in a 3 × 3 (Cu × Zn) factorial experiment based on a completely randomized design to evaluate the effects of dietary copper and zinc on apparent mineral retention and serum biochemical indicators in young male mink on a corn-fish meal based diet. Animals were fed basal diets supplemented with Cu from copper sulfate (CuSO4) and Zn from zinc sulfate (ZnSO4). Supplemental Cu levels were 0, 15, and 30 mg/kg copper, respectively, while supplemental Zn levels were 0, 150, and 300 mg/kg, respectively. A metabolism trial of 4 days was conducted during the last week of experimental feeding. Blood samples were collected via the toe clip to determine blood hematology and blood metabolites. Copper excretion, retention, and digestibility were influenced by dietary copper (P < 0.05), however, there was also a zinc-copper interaction. Copper digestibility and retention were substantially reduced when zinc was added to the low copper diet but showed little change with zinc supplementation of the high copper diet. Both plasma Cu and plasma Zn were influenced by dietary level of the respective mineral (P < 0.05). There was no influence of dietary copper on plasma zinc; however, high Zn in the diet reduced plasma Cu concentrations. There was a zinc-copper interaction for plasma Cu (P = 0.053). Cu-Zn superoxide dismutase (Cu-Zn SOD) activity tended to be influenced by dietary zinc (P = 0.065) and dietary copper (P = 0.035). Dietary copper had a significant effect on ceruloplasmin (CER) and triglyceride (TG) concentrations (P < 0.05). Our results show that moderately high Zn in the diet (Zn:Cu ratio of 40:1) significantly reduce the apparent Cu digestibility. Our results also show that moderately high Cu in the diet increases Cu retention, but not reduces Zn absorption, and moderately high Zn in the diet reduced plasma Cu concentrations and CER activity.

Effects of dietary copper on organ indexes, tissular Cu, Zn and Fe deposition and fur quality of growing-furring male mink (Mustela vison)

The objectives of this study were to study the effects of different levels of dietary copper on organ indexes, tissular Cu, Zn and Fe deposition and fur quality of mink in the growing-furring periods. One hundred and five standard dark male mink were randomly assigned to seven groups with the following dietary treatments: basal diet with no supplemental Cu (Control); basal diet supplemented with either 6, 12, 24, 48, 96 and 192 mg/kg Cu from copper sulphate, respectively. The colour intensity scores displayed a linear trend (P = 0.057). The spleen Cu concentrations responded in a linear (P < 0.05) fashion with increasing level of Cu, but copper supplementation did not affect speen concentrations of Fe or Zn. Supplemental dose of Cu linearly increased (P < 0.05) liver Cu and Fe concentrations but did not alter (P > 0.10) liver Zn. Our results indicate that Cu plays an important role in the pigmentation in growing-furring mink, and supplemental dietary Cu in growing-furring mink improve hair colour, and copper has limited effects on liver mineral deposition.

Effects of different sources and levels of copper on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, and elemental balance in young female mink (Mustela vison)

An experiment was conducted in a 3 × 3 + 1 factorial experiment based on a completely randomized design to evaluate the effects of different sources of copper on growth performance, nutrient digestibility and elemental balance in young female mink on a corn-fishmeal-based diet. Animals in the control group were fed a basal diet (containing 8.05 mg Cu/kg DM; control), which mainly consisted of corn, fish meal, meat bone meal, and soybean oil, with no copper supplementation. Minks in other nine treatments were fed basal diets supplemented with Cu from reagent-grade copper sulfate, tribasic copper chloride (TBCC) and copper methionate. Cu concentrations of experiment diets were 10, 25, and 40 mg/kg copper. A metabolism trial of 4 days was conducted during the last week of experimental feeding. Final body weight and average daily gain increased (linear and quadratic, P < 0.05) as Cu increased in the diet; maximal growth was seen in the Cu25 group. Cu supplementation slightly improved the feed conversion rate (P = 0.095). Apparent fat digestibility was increased by copper level (P = 0.020). Retention nitrogen was increased by copper level (linear, P = 0.003). Copper source had a significant effect on copper retention with Cu-Met and copper sulfate treatments retention more than TBCC treatments (P < 0.05). Our results indicate that mink can efficiently utilize added dietary fat and that Cu plays an important role in the digestion of dietary fat in mink, and mink can efficiently utilize Cu-Met and CuSO4.