Use of nanostructured copper as a performance enhancer for nursery piglets

• Grant number: 22/12389-9
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: December 01, 2022
• End date: November 30, 2023
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Animal Husbandry - Animal Nutrition and Feeding
• Principal Investigator: Cesar Augusto Pospissil Garbossa
• Grantee: Rafaela Nunes dos Santos
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia (FMVZ). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The use of antimicrobials as performance-enhancing additives is questioned due to inherent bacterial resistance, and it is necessary to seek new technologies to meet the demand for efficiency in swine production. In this sense, the present work aims to evaluate the effect of nanostructured copper as a performance enhancer for nursery piglets. The hypothesis is that animals that receive diets supplemented with copper nanoparticle have better performance and health compared to non-supplemented animals. The experiment will be conducted in the Swine Research Laboratory (LPS/USP) in Pirassununga-SP. Are going to be used 135 piglets aged and weighing approximately 28 days and 6.8 kg, respectively. Each pen will be considered the experimental unit, containing three animals, being blocked according to initial weight and sex. Five (5) treatments will be used, totaling nine (9) replications per treatment. The five (5) treatments will be: negative control (diet without inclusion of performance enhancer); positive control (diet including 200 mg/kg of copper sulfate as a performance enhancer); and three diets with different inclusions of the commercial product with nanostructured copper (15, 20 and 25 mg/kg of diet). By weighing the animals, the feed provided and the leftovers, the average daily weight gain (GPD), the average daily feed intake (CRD) and average feed conversion (CA) will be calculated for performance evaluation. Daily fecal score analysis will be performed in the stalls. An economic analysis will be carried out, evaluating the economic feasibility of using the additive.