5 thoughts when choosing copper for piglets
The inclusion of a highly bioavailable source of dietary copper helps to overcome the growth depression in post-weaned piglets and severe economic losses to the producers. Copper methyl hydroxy analogue chelate meets the characteristics needed to be of choice as a source of copper in piglets.
BY ROBERTO BAREA, TECHNICAL SERVICE MANAGER – EUROPE, NOVUS INTERNATIONAL, INC.
C
10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90
0 Negative Control CuSO4 TBCC Cu-MHAC 40b
opper has known antibacterial effect beside others, like stimulation of enzymatic activity and systemic effects that indirectly stimulates feed intake and growth. Organic sources of trace minerals result from
the complexation of a metal by an organic molecule. A chelate is a specifically defined complex for which the metal is attached to the ligand at two points at least. Chelation improves the bioavailability of the metal by protecting it from antagonisms in the digestive tract and by optimising its absorption and metabolic use
Higher bioavailability Bioavailability is a key factor in mineral absorption. Not all
Liver Cu (dry weight basis) (ppm) P
73a
copper sources are the same and organic trace minerals can differ in their bioavailability. Cu-MHAC (Mintrex Cu trace mineral, Novus International, Inc.) is a bis-chelate trace mineral with high bioavailability. The chelated molecule consists of one copper atom bound by coordinate covalent bonds to two molecules of HMTBa [2-hydroxy 4-(methylthio) butanoic acid or methionine hydroxy analogue]. This stable and less reactive structure protects copper against numerous antagonisms and interactions with other components in the digestive tract, allowing it to reach the absorption site with increased bioavailability compared to other copper sources. Additional nutritive value can be found in the HMTBa ligand, which is used independently as a source of methionine in animal rations. In a trial, copper liver deposition in piglets fed different sources of copper was analysed. 616 piglets were allocated in 4 treatments (7 pens with 22 piglets per pen): a negative control (6 mg/kg copper from CuSO4
) and 3 treatments supplemented with different Cu sources [CuSO4, tribasic copper chloride (TBCC) or Cu-MHAC]
at 150 mg/kg (Figure 1). Piglets receiving the copper chelate had significantly higher liver copper levels, reaching 73.3 mg/kg compared to piglets supplied with CuSO4
and TBCC.
As the dietary copper levels in the feed were identical in these three groups, it can be concluded that the Cu-MHAC was better absorbed and stored than the two inorganic sources.
52b 49b
Overcome negative interactions The chemical structure of Cu-MHAC has shown to reduce negative interaction with enzymes and other nutrients. Moreover, the reduced formation of copper-phytate complex improves phytase efficacy as controlled research reported improved digestibility of copper, crude protein, phosphorus, fat and energy. Research trials have shown that supplementation of Cu-MHAC in phytase-supplemented diets improves growth performance above levels obtained by copper sulphate.
Minimise post-weaning growth depression Copper supplementation is essential to support animal development, especially after weaning when many stressful factors cause growth depression in piglet. During this period, inclusion of a highly bioavailable source of dietary copper can exert a positive effect to overcome this
14 ▶ WEANING | JUNE 2020
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