Effects of Supplementary Copper-Chelate on the Performance and Cholesterol Level in Plasma and Breast Muscle of Broiler Chickens

An experiment was conducted to determine the effects of supernormal level of copper (Cu) from different supplementary sources on the performance, cholesterol level in plasma and breast muscle, and accumulation of fat and Cu in broilers. In a 5 wk feeding trial, two hundred forty hatched male broiler chickens were assigned to four dietary treatments: control diet containing 10 mg/kg supplementary Cu, control diet plus 250 mg/kg Cu from $CuSO_4$ ($CuSO_4-250$), control diet plus 125 mg/kg Cu from Cu-methionine chelate (Cu-Met-125), and control diet plus 250 mg/kg Cu from Cu-methionine chelate (Cu-Met-250). Weight gain in Cu-Met-125 treatment and Cu-Met-250 treatment were not different, but they were significantly (p<0.05) greater than that in $CuSO_4-250$ treatment. Plasma total cholesterol and reduced glutathione (GSH) in blood were significantly reduced by supplementation of $CuSO_4-250$, but were not significantly affected by Cu-Met supplementations. Plasma HDL cholesterol, plasma triglycerides and breast muscle cholesterol were not significantly affected by Cu supplementation. $CuSO_4-250$ improved metabolizability of crude fat, which resulted in low abdominal fat pad weight. Cu from Cu-Met was better absorbed and accumulated more in the breast muscle and lesser in the liver compared with Cu from $CuSO_4$.