Effects of copper sources and levels on performance, Cu status, ruminal fermentation, metabolism and oxidation of lipids in cattle

Author(s)

Lisia Bertonha Correa

• Document type: Doctoral Thesis
• Press: Pirassununga.
• Institution: Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Faculdade de Zootecnica e Engenharia de Alimentos (FZE/BT)
• Defense date: 2010-07-05

Examining board members

Marcus Antônio Zanetti; Gustavo Ribeiro Del Claro; Mariza Pires de Melo; Angélica Simone Cravo Pereira; Arlindo Saran Netto

• Advisor: Marcus Antônio Zanetti

Abstract

Copper is associated with lipid metabolism, becoming very important in reducing cholesterol, and with oxidative stability of meat, because it is part of some antioxidant enzymes. However, when in the ionic form, is considered a pro-oxidant element. The organic copper did not exhibit this effect and, besides, presents higher bioavailability than inorganic sources. Thus, the aim of this study was to determine the supplementation effect of two levels and two sources of copper (inorganic and organic) on the performance, Cu concentration in liver, muscle and blood, ruminal fermentation, oxidative parameters and metabolism of lipids and cholesterol. Thirty-five Nellore cattle in the finishing phase were divided into 5 groups with 7 animals per treatment, as described: 1) C: control diet, without additional Cu supplementation; 2) I10: 10mg Cu/kg DM, as Cu sulfate; 3) I40: 40mg Cu/kg DM, as Cu sulfate; 4) O10: 10mg Cu/kg DM, as Cu proteinate; 5) O40: 40mg Cu/kg DM, as Cu proteinate. Supplementation with copper provided higher Cu concentration and accumulation in the liver (p<0.05), with the highest mean observed for the O40 treatment, nevertheless the Cu status in muscle and serum were not affected by treatments. The highest activity of ceruloplasmin (p<0.05) was observed for the I40 treatment. There was no significant effect (p>0.05) for daily weight gain, dry matter intake, feed efficiency, hot and cold carcass yield, cold loss, backfat and loin eye area of cattle, among control treatment and supplementation with inorganic or organic copper. Ruminal pH, volatile fatty acids and ammonia were not influenced (p>0.05) by treatments. In general, copper supplementation altered the meat fatty acid profile (p<0.05), with an increase in the proportion of unsaturated fatty acids over saturated fatty acids. There was no treatment effect for TBARS (thiobarbituric acid reactive substances) in liver and meat vacuum packed (p>0.05), but there was a reduction in TBARS values in meat from cattle supplemented with Cu for samples prepared on Display Life (treatment I40 and O40, p=0.06), and modified atmosphere (treatment I10, I40, O10 and O40, p <0.05), compared to the control treatment. Supplementation with Cu (treatment I40 and O40) increased the activity of SOD (superoxide dismutase) (p<0.05) compared to control treatment, but did not influence the activity of GSH-Px (glutathione peroxidase) (p>0.05). There was no effect of supplementation on triglycerides and cholesterol in blood, however, there was a reduction in cholesterol concentration in L. dorsi muscle (p<0.05) compared to the control treatment, by reducing (p<0.05) of GSH concentrations and the GSH/GSSG ratio. (AU)