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Effects of copper sulfate and zinc oxide on weanling pig growth and plasma mineral levels

Zinc and copper supplementation of weanling diets improve piglet performance during the nursery period
4 March 2010
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Zinc and copper are two minerals commonly added at pharmacological levels in weanling pig diets to serve as growth promoters. Research has shown that increased dietary zinc can increase growth rates and decrease the incidence of diarrhea for the first 2 to 4 wk after weaning. Zinc oxide (ZnO) is the most commonly used form of zinc. Dietary copper has also been shown to enhance growth rates in weanling pigs and growing pigs. Copper sulfate (CuSO4) is the most common form. Historically, research on combining ZnO and CuSO4 at pharmacological levels has shown growth rates similar to those when ZnO is used alone. Therefore, the objective of this trial was to evaluate the effects of the addition of dietary copper or zinc for a longer duration than in past trials and to determine the impact of changing mineral regimens by using pharmacological levels of zinc early after weaning and high levels of dietary copper later in the nursery period.

A total of 216 weanling pigs (initially 6.17 kg and 21 d of age) were used in a 42-d growth trial to compare the effects of supplemental zinc and copper and changing mineral regimens on growth performance and plasma mineral levels. The 6 dietary treatments included a 2 x 2 factorial arrangement with main effects of added copper from copper sulfate (0 or 125 ppm) and added zinc from zinc oxide (0 or 3,000 ppm from d 0 to 14 and 0 or 2,000 ppm from d 14 to 42). For the final 2 treatments, either zinc oxide alone or the combinations of zinc and copper were fed from d 0 to 14, with copper sulfate fed from d 14 to 42. There were 6 pens per treatment with 6 pigs per pen. All diets were supplemented with an additional 165 ppm zinc and 16.5 ppm copper from the trace mineral premix. Plasma was collected from 2 pigs per pen on d 14 and 42.

From d 0 to 14, ADG, ADFI, and F/G were improved (P < 0.04) with the addition of dietary zinc. Copper supplementation also tended to increase (P < 0.07) ADFI from d 0 to 14. From d 14 to 42, added copper increased (P < 0.003) ADG and ADFI. Over the entire trial, continuous supplemental zinc increased (P < 0.03) ADG and tended to increase (P < 0.09) ADFI. Dietary copper also increased (P < 0.004) ADG and ADFI when fed from d 0 to 42. The most advantageous values for ADG and ADFI were seen in the treatment containing high levels of zinc from d 0 to 14 and high copper levels from d 14 to 42. The addition of either zinc or copper increased (P < 0.02) feed cost per pound of gain. However, income over feed cost was improved (P < 0.006) with the addition of copper, with the greatest value obtained when high zinc was fed from d 0 to 14 and high copper was fed from d 14 to 42. Plasma zinc levels were increased (P < 0.001) with zinc supplementation on d 14.

It may be concluded that the optimal mineral regimen was supplementing zinc oxide from d 0 to 14 and copper sulfate from d 14 to 42.

NW Shelton, MD Tokach, JL Nelssen, RD Goodband, SS Dritz, JM DeRouchey, GM Hill, RG Amachawadi, and TG Nagaraja. 2009. Swine Day, Kansas State University. 88: 65-71.

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