UN SDG
Livestock Studies 2006, Vol 46, Num, 2     (Pages: 033-038)
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The effects of dietary supplementation of copper sulfate on performance and some blood parameters of laying hens

Mehmet Ali AZMAN 1 ,Mehmet YILMAZ 1

1 Fırat Üniversitesi, Veteriner Fakültesi, Hayvan Besleme ve Beslenme Hastalıkları Anabilim Dalı – ELAZIĞ - A study was carried out to determine the effects of copper sulfate supplementation on egg production, egg weight, feed consumption, feed efficiency, and some blood parameters of layers. Total of 96, Nick-chick (white) layer hens were randomly assigned to 3 groups. The birds were fed with corn–soy based layer diets (control group) or fed with 125 or 250 mg/kg supplemented copper from copper sulfate (experimental groups) during experiment. Daily feed intake, egg production rate, egg weight and feed conversion ratio were not affected by the treatments. Serum cholesterol, triglyceride, and HDL cholesterol levels were not affected by copper supplementation, but in 250 mg/kg copper sulfate supplemented group, LDL cholesterol levels decreased (P<0.05).

In conclusion, the data shows that dietary copper supplementation has no significant effects on performance, serum cholesterol, triglyceride, and HDL cholesterol levels, on the contrary 250 mg/kg copper supplementation decreases LDL cholesterol levels. Keywords : Copper, laying hen, egg production, some blood parameters