Jegede A.V., Oduguwa O.O., Oso A.O., Fafiolu A.O., Idowu O.M.O., Nollet L.
Department of Animal Nutrition, University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Nigeria; Alltech Biotechnology Centre, Dunboyne, Ireland
Jegede, A.V., Department of Animal Nutrition, University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Nigeria; Oduguwa, O.O., Department of Animal Nutrition, University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Nigeria; Oso, A.O., Department of Animal Nutrition, University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Nigeria; Fafiolu, A.O., Department of Animal Nutrition, University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Nigeria; Idowu, O.M.O., Department of Animal Nutrition, University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Nigeria; Nollet, L., Alltech Biotechnology Centre, Dunboyne, Ireland
A 140-day study was conducted to determine the influence of dietary organic Cu (Cu proteinate) and inorganic Cu (CuSO 4) on growth performance, blood characteristics and plasma lipids of growing pullet. 480day-old Kabiru® breed chicks were randomly allocated to 6 treatment groups of 80 birds split over 4 replicates of 20 birds each. The diets consisted of a basal diet (containing 32.84 and 31.78mg/kg Cu for starter and grower phases respectively) supplemented with organic Cu (Cu proteinate; Cu-P) or inorganic Cu (Cu sulphate; CuSO 4) fed at 3 dietary concentrations (50, 100 and 150mg/kg). No significant (P>0.05) effect of Cu source, concentration and interaction of Cu source and concentration was obtained for growth response at starter and grower phases. CuSO 4 supplementation resulted in elevated (P<0.05) serum uric acid. Supplementation of diets with 150mg/kg Cu resulted in the reduction (P<0.05) of white blood cell count of the birds. Cu-P decreased (P<0.05) plasma cholesterol, low density lipoprotein (LDL) and triglyceride in comparison to CuSO 4. CuSO 4 supplementation resulted in increased high density lipoprotein (HDL). Cu concentration elicited a linear response (P<0.05) for total cholesterol, LDL and triglyceride. It was concluded that the source and concentration of Cu did not lead to a significant difference in growth performance. Furthermore, Cu-P reduced (P<0.05) the plasma cholesterol concentration of the experimental birds when compared to CuSO 4. Also plasma cholesterol concentration reduced (P<0.05) with increased dietary Cu concentration. © 2012 Elsevier B.V.