Dietary Concentrations Of Cu Research Articles

Effects of reducing copper and zinc supplementation on the performance and mineral status of fattening pigs

Pig manure with high copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn) concentration is applied to the soil, and these trace minerals can accumulate in the topsoil and decrease its fertility. Thus, adjusting concentrations of Cu and Zn in pig diets below current maximum allowance can prevent this risk. Reduction of dietary concentrations of Cu and Zn reduces their faecal excretion since only a small portion is retained in the pig’s body. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of reducing concentration of dietary Cu and Zn or withdrawing their supplementation on the performance and mineral status of fattening pigs. Four dietary treatments were compared: a basal diet (WS; withdraw supplementation), with no Cu or Zn supplementation (5 and 29 mg/kg of native Cu and Zn, respectively); intermediate concentration (OINT), supplemented with Cu and Zn oxides to obtain mean dietary concentration of 7.4 and 47.5 mg/kg of Cu and Zn, respectively; and two diets supplemented with oxides (OREG) or sulphates (SREG) at concentration similar to European Union limits (i.e. 25 and 120 mg/kg of total Cu and Zn, respectively), as commonly used on commercial farms. Ninety-six pigs (24.3 ± 3.3 kg BW) were each assigned to one of the four treatments and reared in individual pens for 14 weeks (up to 110.3 ± 8.9 kg BW). Animal performances were measured, and samples of plasma (on day 1 and day 41 of experimentation and at slaughter), bones and the liver (at slaughter) were collected from all pigs. Faecal samples were collected from all pigs every 3 weeks to determine the Cu and Zn excretion. Over the entire experiment, neither the concentration nor the source of Cu and Zn influenced feed intake, BW or the feed conversion ratio. Plasma Cu and Zn concentrations were not influenced by the treatment but increased as the age of the pigs increased. Liver Cu concentration increased (P < 0.05) as dietary concentrations increased (OREG> WS). Neither the concentration nor the source of Cu and Zn influenced bone Cu and Zn concentration or physical bone parameters. However, SREG had a higher maximum load until bone breaking (P < 0.05) than OREG. As expected, faecal excretion of Cu and Zn decreased (P < 0.01) as dietary concentration decreased. Dietary Cu and Zn can be reduced without decreasing the performance or mineral status of pigs, and these results should be validated on commercial farms that have more challenging health conditions.

Integrated evaluation of the requirements and excretions of Cu, Fe, Zn, and Mn for broilers via a uniform design method.

This study aimed to determine the ideal balance profile of Cu, Fe, Zn, and Mn for broilers of 1-21 days of age via a uniform experimental design. In Experiment 1, 900 1-day-old Arbor Acres male broilers were randomly allotted to 15 dietary treatments with six replicates of 10 birds. A total of 14 experimental diets were formulated with the supplementation of 8~16, 123~160, 40~80, and 60~120 mg/kg of Cu, Fe, Zn, and Mn, respectively, in the basal diet, according to the uniform design method. The excretion of Cu, Fe, Zn, and Mn in the manure and the broiler performance were determined to build the ideal balance profile of these elements. Experiment 2 was conducted based on the ideal balance profile built in Experiment 1, to test its practicability using 720 broilers with two treatments. The dietary concentrations of Cu, Fe, Zn, and Mn in the control group were 15.19, 203.08, 76.78, and 86.13 mg/kg, respectively. In Experiment 1, the concentrations of Cu, Fe, Zn, and Mn in the diets were 16.96, 166.66, 46.01, and 60.26 mg/kg, respectively, when the average daily gain reached the optimum value. When the dietary concentrations of Cu, Fe, Zn, and Mn were 8.54, 130.66, 38.19, and 64.07 mg/kg, respectively, the total excretion of Cu, Fe, Zn, and Mn got the minimum value. There are corresponding ideal balance profiles for minimum excretion of a certain element. In Experiment 2, the dietary levels of Fe, Zn, and Mn were decreased by 17.93%, 40.08%, and 30.04%, respectively, which had no significant effect on average daily gain, average daily feed intake, and feed gain for 1~21 day-old broilers but markedly decreased the excretion of Cu and Mn and total excretion. It was concluded that there is a dilemma between growth performance and mineral excretion. Although dietary levels of Cu, Fe, Zn, and Mn supporting optimal growth are higher than those for minimizing mineral excretion, supplementing too many trace elements in the diets of broilers is unnecessary.

Growth performance, carcass characteristics, ileal microbiota, and amino acid digestibility of broilers fed diets varying in supplemental copper concentrations and amino acid density from 1 to 32 d of age

Summary Two experiments were designed to determine interactive effects of supplemental dietary Cu and amino acid (AA) density on growth performance, processing characteristics, ileal microflora, and AA digestibility of broilers. In experiment 1, 8 dietary treatments were used, consisting of a factorial arrangement of 3 Cu programs providing Cu concentrations of 135-135-135, 270-135-135, or 270-270-135 mg/kg in starter, grower, and finisher periods, formulated at moderate or low AA density, positive and negative controls. The Cu source was tribasic Cu chloride. In both experiments, control birds were provided with diets formulated to moderate AA density and approximately 13 mg/kg Cu. Broilers fed positive control diets were unvaccinated and received diets containing a coccidiostat, while all other birds were vaccinated against coccidiosis. The results indicated that feeding high concentrations of dietary Cu may decrease feed conversion ratio through reduced feed intake. This led to reduced carcass weight and yield, but did not affect breast meat weight and yield. No differences were observed for microflora composition. Experiment 2 evaluated apparent ileal AA digestibility and used 6 dietary treatments, consisting of positive and negative controls and a factorial of either 135 or 270 mg/kg Cu and low or moderate AA density. Copper treatments reduced Cys digestibility compared with negative control–fed birds, and only Trp digestibility was increased with Cu supplementation. These studies indicate that feeding high concentrations of Cu may enhance growth performance but did not improve digestibility of most AA or alter microflora profile.

Growth performance and carcass characteristics of broilers fed diets varying in supplemental copper concentrations from 29 to 53 days of age

Summary High concentrations of dietary Cu have been shown to improve growth performance of broilers raised without antibiotics. A study was conducted to evaluate the effects of feeding high concentrations of dietary Cu to male broilers from 29 to 53 D of age. Broilers received common diets containing 135 mg/kg of supplemental Cu until 28 D of age. During the finisher 1 (29–40 D of age) and finisher 2 (41–53 D of age) phases, broilers received 1 of 5 treatments. These 5 dietary treatments were formulated at 0-0, 135-0, 270-0, 135-135, or 270-270 mg/kg of supplemental Cu in the finisher 1 and finisher 2 periods, respectively. At 54 D of age, 14 birds per pen were processed and were front-half deboned to determine breast meat weights and yields and evaluated for breast meat quality defects. No significant differences were observed for growth performance characteristics because of high variance in BW gain and feed conversion ratio. Broilers fed 270-270 mg/kg of Cu diets had higher total breast yield than the broilers fed no supplemental Cu from 29 to 53 D of age (28.1% vs. 27.6%). Severity of white striping or wooden breast was not affected by Cu treatment. These data indicate that high concentrations of dietary Cu may increase breast meat weight and yield of broilers processed at 54 D of age with no adverse effects on meat quality.

Influence of Dietary Zinc, Copper, and Manganese on the Intestinal Health of Broilers Under Eimeria Challenge

The incidence of enteric infections in broiler chickens may increase worldwide due to mounting pressure to limit the use of sub-therapeutic antibiotics and ionophores for coccidia suppression/prevention in the diets of broilers. For this reason, we need expand our knowledge on the role that micro-minerals have in modulating the intestinal physiology, immunology, and microbiology of broiler chickens. There are issues associated with the use of high doses of some micro-minerals in the diets of animals, such as environmental contamination, bacterial resistance, and gizzard erosion. Therefore, there is a need to maximize the absorption of these minerals by the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) of birds when intestinal function may be compromised. Zinc is an essential micromineral required for growth, and influences intestinal development and/or regeneration during and after enteric disease. Two studies were conducted by our lab to determine the effects of Zn source in broilers under coccidia and Clostridium perfringens challenge. In the first study, Zn proteinate had beneficial effects on the performance of chickens challenged with coccidia plus C. perfringens by enhancing intestinal integrity and partially attenuating the inflammatory response. In the second study, Zn proteinate lowered the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines and modulated the ileal microbiota. Additionally, the poultry industry has used prophylactic concentrations of dietary Cu for its ability to improve feed conversion for a long time. Copper absorption occurs mainly in the duodenum of chickens and, therefore, injuries to the intestinal epithelium of duodenum would impair Cu absorption and decrease its tissue concentration. Although there is a lack of studies relating Mn supplementation and its different sources on the immune response against coccidiosis in poultry, it is likely that Mn is beneficial during enteric challenges due to its role in the production of mucopolysaccharides. Therefore, the proper evaluation of the role of minerals on mitigating the negative impact of coccidiosis in broilers must consider their properties in modulating the physiology, immunology, and the intestinal microbiota of the host during health and disease situation events.

Dietary Zinc Supplementation to Prevent Chronic Copper Poisoning in Sheep.

Simple SummarySheep are susceptible to copper toxicosis, a deadly disease that usually occurs when the animals ingest large amounts of this mineral. Considering that the susceptibility of sheep to copper accumulation varies widely among breeds and from animal to animal., we evaluate whether Zn supplementation could be an option as a preventive measure to protect against hepatic Cu accumulation in sheep. Zn at 300 mg/kg dry matter (DM) is useful for preventing excessive hepatic Cu accumulation. Hepatic Cu accumulation is lower in animals receiving the Zn supplementation.The aim of this study was to evaluate whether zinc (Zn) supplementation protects against hepatic copper (Cu) accumulation in copper-loaded sheep. Forty cross-bred lambs were assigned to five experimental groups. These included the control group (C) and four treatment groups that received Cu and/or Zn supplementation (dry matter (DM) basis) over 14 weeks, as follows: Cu (450 mg Cu/kg); Zn-35 (450 mg Cu + 35 mg Zn/kg); Zn-150 (450 mg Cu + 150 mg Zn/kg); and Zn-300 (450 mg Cu + 300 mg Zn/kg). Blood, liver, and bile samples were obtained for mineral determination by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP–OES). The hepatic metallothionein (MT) concentrations were also determined. At the end of the experiment, hepatic Cu concentrations were higher in all Cu-supplemented groups than in C. Hepatic Cu accumulation was lower in the groups receiving the Zn supplementation than in the Cu group, although the difference was only statistically significant (66%) in the Zn-300 group. The MT concentrations tended to be higher (almost two-fold) in the Zn groups (but were not dose related) than in the C and Cu groups, and they were related to hepatic Zn concentrations. Zn supplementation at 300 mg/kg DM is useful for preventing excessive hepatic Cu accumulation in sheep exposed to high dietary concentrations of Cu.

Effect of source of trace minerals in either forage- or by-product–based diets fed to dairy cows: 1. Production and macronutrient digestibility

Excess rumen-soluble Cu and Zn can alter rumen microbial populations and reduce fiber digestibility. Because of differences in particle size and chemical composition, ruminal and total-tract digestibility of fiber from forage- and by-product-based diets can differ. We hypothesized that, because of differences in mineral solubility, diets with hydroxy rather than sulfate trace minerals would have greater fiber digestibility, but the effect may depend on source of fiber. Eighteen multiparous cows were used in a split-plot replicated Latin square with two 28-d periods to evaluate the effects of Cu, Zn, and Mn source (sulfates or hydroxy; Micronutrients USA LLC, Indianapolis, IN) and neutral detergent fiber (NDF) source (forage diet = 26% NDF vs. by-product = 36%) on total-tract nutrient digestibility. During the entire experiment (56 d) cows remained on the same fiber treatment, but source of supplemental trace mineral was different for each 28-d period so that all cows were exposed to both mineral treatments. During each of the two 28-d periods, cows were fed no supplemental Cu, Zn, or Mn for 16 d followed by 12 d of feeding supplemental Cu, Zn, and Mn from either sulfates or hydroxy sources. Supplemental minerals for each of the mineral sources fed provided approximately 10, 35, and 32 mg/kg of supplemental Cu, Zn, and Mn, respectively, for both fiber treatments. Total dietary concentrations of Cu, Zn, and Mn were approximately 19, 65, and 70 mg/kg for the forage diets and 21, 85, and 79 mg/kg for the by-product diets, respectively. Treatment had no effect on dry matter intake (24.2 kg/d) or milk production (34.9 kg/d). Milk fatty acid profiles were altered by fiber source, mineral source, and their interaction. Cows fed the by-product diets had lower dry matter (65.9 vs. 70.2%), organic matter (67.4 vs. 71.7%), and crude protein digestibility (58.8 vs. 62.1%) but greater starch (97.5 vs. 96.3%) and NDF digestibility (50.5 vs. 44.4%) compared with cows fed the forage treatment. Feeding increased concentrations of by-products decreased total digestible nutrients regardless of mineral source. Feeding hydroxy Cu, Zn, and Mn increased NDF digestibility (48.5 vs. 46.4%) but had no effect on total digestible nutrients.

Intake of selected minerals on commercial dairy herds in central and northern England in comparison with requirements

SUMMARYOverfeeding minerals to dairy herds will raise diet cost, increase their excretion into the environment and for minerals such as copper (Cu) can lead to poisoning and cow death. In contrast, underfeeding may compromise cow performance, health and fertility. Despite this, the level of mineral intake on commercial dairy units is poorly documented. To determine the mineral intake on commercial dairy herds in central and northern England over the winter of 2011/12 and compare these to recommended levels, samples of compound feed, forage mix, supplementary sources (including lick blocks, rumen boluses, free access minerals and drenches) and drinking water were collected from 50 herds over the winter feeding period and analysed for 10 macro and trace minerals. For cows in early lactation the mean dietary concentration of phosphorus (P) was 4·5 g/kg dry matter (DM) (s.d. 0·70), 0·1 g/kg DM below UK requirements, and for calcium (Ca) was 10·2 g/kg DM (s.d. 2·94), 5·9 g/kg DM above requirements. Trace mineral concentrations were also in excess of requirements in early lactation, with a mean dietary Cu concentration of 28 mg/kg DM (s.d. 9·85), approximately 18 mg/kg DM above UK requirements, with 32 of the 50 herds feeding above the UK industry recommended maximum of 20 mg/kg DM and 6 above the EU limit of 40 mg/kg DM. Dietary mineral concentrations were generally lower in late lactation but still higher than requirements. The forage mix (including supplementary feeds and minerals) contributed the greatest amount of minerals, with percentile ranges (10th–90th) of 2·1–4·4 g/kg diet DM for P, 1·4–3·2 g/kg diet DM for magnesium (Mg) and 5·3–25·0 mg/kg diet DM for Cu. Compounds fed in the milking parlour supplied (10th–90th percentile) 0·0–1·4 g P g/kg diet DM, 0·0–1·2 g Mg/kg diet DM and 0·0–11·6 mg Cu/kg diet DM. For the upper 90th percentile of dairy herds, water supplied proportionally 0·08 of Ca requirements recommended in early lactation in the UK, whilst supplementary mineral sources supplied up to 0·64 of Cu and 0·43 of zinc (Zn) requirements. High dietary concentrations of Cu were not justified by the presence of the dietary antagonist molybdenum (Mo), with no relationship between the two minerals in early or late lactation diets. In conclusion, most dairy herds were feeding excess amounts of minerals over the winter feeding period when compared to UK or other national recommended guidelines, with the implications of a higher diet cost and negative impact on the environment and animal health.

The influence of copper concentration and source on ileal microbiota

Copper is normally supplemented in poultry diets as a growth promotant and antimicrobial. However, there are conflicting reports about the growth benefits and little information about how Cu affects the microbiota in the intestinal tract of poultry. Therefore, in vitro and in vivo experiments were conducted with broilers to determine the effects of Cu source and supplementation on ileal microbiota. The influence of Cu on growth of lactobacilli and Escherichia coli in media inoculated with ileal contents was determined in the first study. When Cu sulfate pentahydrate was supplemented to the cultures, quadratic increases in lactobacilli to graded concentrations of Cu up to 125 mg/kg and quadratic decreases in E. coli up to 250 mg/kg of Cu were observed after 24 h of incubation at 37°C. However, when tribasic Cu chloride (TBCC) was supplemented, neither linear nor quadratic responses to graded concentrations of dietary Cu were observed on number of lactobacilli or number of E. coli. The effects of Cu and Cu source on ileal microbiota and growth performance in broiler chickens were determined in the second study. Bird performance was not affected by Cu source or concentration. The bacterial culture enumeration results revealed that supplementation with 187.5 mg/kg of Cu from Cu sulfate pentahydrate and TBCC had no effect on number of ileal lactobacilli of birds. The denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis analyses of ileal microbial communities revealed that neither Cu supplementation nor source had effects on the number of bacterial species predominant in the ileal digesta or associated with the ileal mucosa. Supplementation with TBCC supplementation significantly increased the similarity coefficients of microbiota in the ileal mucosa compared with cross-products of all individuals. This suggests that TBCC may alter the intestinal microbiota, yet this shift had no effect on bird performance.

Copper proteinate in weanling pig diets for enhancing growth performance and reducing fecal copper excretion compared with copper sulfate1

Two 28-d experiments were conducted to evaluate the efficacy of low dietary concentrations of Cu as Cu-proteinate compared with 250 ppm Cu as CuSO4 with growth performance, plasma Cu concentrations, and Cu balance of weanling swine as the criteria. In the production study (Exp. 1), 240 crossbred pigs that averaged 19.8 d of age and 6.31 kg BW initially were group-fed (two or three pigs per pen) the basal diets (Phase 1: d 0 to 14 and Phase 2: d 14 to 28) supplemented with 0 (control), 25, 50, 100, or 200 ppm Cu as Cu-proteinate, or 250 ppm Cu as CuSO4 (as-fed basis). The basal diets contained 16.5 ppm Cu supplied as CuSO4 before supplementation with Cu-proteinate or 250 ppm Cu as CuSO4. There were quadratic responses (P ≤ 0.05) in ADFI and ADG for wk 1, Phases 1 and 2, and overall because ADFI was higher for pigs fed 25 or 50 ppm Cu as Cu-proteinate, and ADG increased with increasing Cu-proteinate up to 50 ppm Cu. The Cu-proteinate treatment groups combined had a higher (P ≤ 0.05) Phase 2 and overall ADFI and ADG than the CuSO4 group. In the mineral balance study (Exp. 2), 20 crossbred barrows that averaged 35 d of age and 11.2 kg/BW initially were placed in individual metabolism pens with total urine and fecal grab sample collections on d 22 to 26. Treatments were the basal Phase 2 diet supplemented with 0, 50, or 100 ppm Cu as Cu-proteinate, or 250 ppm Cu as CuSO4 (as-fed basis). Treatments did not differ in growth performance criteria. There were linear increases (P < 0.001) in Cu absorption, retention, and excretion (milligrams per day) with increasing Cu-proteinate. Pigs fed 100 ppm Cu as Cu-proteinate absorbed and retained more Cu and excreted less Cu (mg/d, P ≤ 0.003) than pigs fed 250 ppm Cu as CuSO4. Plasma Cu concentrations increased linearly (P = 0.06) with increasing Cu-proteinate. In conclusion, weanling pig growth performance was increased by 50 or 100 ppm Cu as Cu-proteinate in our production Exp. 1, but not in our balance Exp. 2, compared with 250 ppm Cu as CuSO4. However, 50 or 100 ppm Cu as Cu-proteinate increased Cu absorption and retention, and decreased Cu excretion 77 and 61%, respectively, compared with 250 ppm Cu as CuSO4.

Copper proteinate in weanling pig diets for enhancing growth performance and reducing fecal copper excretion compared with copper sulfate1

Two 28-d experiments were conducted to evaluate the efficacy of low dietary concentrations of Cu as Cu-proteinate compared with 250 ppm Cu as CuSO4 with growth performance, plasma Cu concentrations, and Cu balance of weanling swine as the criteria. In the production study (Exp. 1), 240 crossbred pigs that averaged 19.8 d of age and 6.31 kg BW initially were group-fed (two or three pigs per pen) the basal diets (Phase 1: d 0 to 14 and Phase 2: d 14 to 28) supplemented with 0 (control), 25, 50, 100, or 200 ppm Cu as Cu-proteinate, or 250 ppm Cu as CuSO4 (as-fed basis). The basal diets contained 16.5 ppm Cu supplied as CuSO4 before supplementation with Cu-proteinate or 250 ppm Cu as CuSO4. There were quadratic responses (P < or = 0.05) in ADFI and ADG for wk 1, Phases 1 and 2, and overall because ADFI was higher for pigs fed 25 or 50 ppm Cu as Cu-proteinate, and ADG increased with increasing Cu-proteinate up to 50 ppm Cu. The Cu-proteinate treatment groups combined had a higher (P < or = 0.05) Phase 2 and overall ADFI and ADG than the CuSO4 group. In the mineral balance study (Exp. 2), 20 crossbred barrows that averaged 35 d of age and 11.2 kg/BW initially were placed in individual metabolism pens with total urine and fecal grab sample collections on d 22 to 26. Treatments were the basal Phase 2 diet supplemented with 0, 50, or 100 ppm Cu as Cu-proteinate, or 250 ppm Cu as CuSO4 (as-fed basis). Treatments did not differ in growth performance criteria. There were linear increases (P < 0.001) in Cu absorption, retention, and excretion (milligrams per day) with increasing Cu-proteinate. Pigs fed 100 ppm Cu as Cu-proteinate absorbed and retained more Cu and excreted less Cu (mg/d, P < or = 0.003) than pigs fed 250 ppm Cu as CuSO4. Plasma Cu concentrations increased linearly (P = 0.06) with increasing Cu-proteinate. In conclusion, weanling pig growth performance was increased by 50 or 100 ppm Cu as Cu-proteinate in our production Exp. 1, but not in our balance Exp. 2, compared with 250 ppm Cu as CuSO4. However, 50 or 100 ppm Cu as Cu-proteinate increased Cu absorption and retention, and decreased Cu excretion 77 and 61%, respectively, compared with 250 ppm Cu as CuSO4.

Copper metabolism in actively growing rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss): interactions between dietary and waterborne copper uptake.

Juvenile rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss were exposed to diets with low (12.6 nmol g(-1)), normal (50.4 nmol g(-1)) or elevated (4437.5 nmol g(-1)) Cu concentrations in combination with either low (5.8 nmol l(-1)) or normal (48.5 nmol l(-1)) waterborne Cu levels over a 50-day period, during which body mass increased up to fivefold. A nutritional requirement for Cu was demonstrated based on growth response and whole body and tissue Cu status. Simultaneous low Cu levels in both the water and the diet depressed growth by 31 % over 7 weeks. There were reductions in both specific growth rate (SGR, 1.95 versus 2.55 % day(-1)) and food conversion efficiency (FCE, 53-59 % versus 75-80 %) over weeks 0-4, but these effects disappeared in weeks 4-7. Elevated concentrations of dietary Cu did not affect SGR or FCE. Low levels of dietary and waterborne Cu decreased, and high levels of dietary Cu increased, the Cu concentrations in whole body, liver, carcass, gut and gills. Copper levels in the liver strongly reflected the exposure conditions with a corresponding fivefold decrease and a 22-fold increase in Cu concentration. Restricting available Cu caused an exponential decline in whole body Cu concentration from 0.0175 to 0.0069 micromol g(-1) and increased the uptake of waterborne Cu (measured with (64)Cu) by the gills. Conversely, high levels of dietary Cu caused a linear increase in whole body Cu concentration to approximately 0.170 micromol g(-1) and depressed the uptake of waterborne Cu. Waterborne Cu uptake contributed the majority (60 %) of the body's Cu accumulation under Cu-deficient conditions while dietary Cu contributed the majority (99 %) at high dietary levels of Cu. True bioavailability of dietary Cu decreased with increasing levels of dietary Cu concentration, although the absolute amount retained increased. These findings demonstrate an important interaction between dietary and waterborne Cu uptake in fish and provide compelling evidence of a key role for the gill in Cu homeostasis.

Effects of high dietary molybdenum concentration and duration of feeding time on molybdenum and copper metabolism in sheep

An experiment was conducted to determine the effect of elevated dietary Mo and duration of feeding on tissue concentrations and excretion of Mo and Cu. Forty lambs were fed diets containing 0, 15, 30 or 45 mg kg −1 (as-fed basis) added Mo as sodium molybdate for 14 or 28 days. The basal corn-soya-bean meal-cottonseed hulls diet contained 1.2 mg kg −1 Mo, 11 mg kg −1 Cu, and 2.2 g kg −1 S (DM basis). Concentration of Mo increased linearly in feces, urine, serum, liver, kidney and muscle as dietary Mo increased. There was no effect of time on fecal, urinary, liver or muscle Mo concentrations. Liver Mo concentration increased ( p < 0.0001) more rapidly in response to dietary Mo at 14 days than at 28 days, but kidney and muscle Mo increased ( p < 0.05) to a greater extent in lambs fed 28 days than in those fed 14 days. Muscle Cu decreased ( p < 0.01) with increasing dietary Mo regardless of feeding duration and kidney Cu tended ( p = 0.05) to increase at 28 but not 14 days. Total serum Cu and TCA-insoluble serum Cu also increased ( p < 0.001) at 28 days with increasing dietary Mo. Dietary supplementation of Mo as sodium molybdate resulted in a redistribution of body stores of Cu in lambs fed normal concentrations of dietary Cu with constant S. It appears that urinary excretion and tissue concentrations of Mo may be useful to estimate bioavailability of supplemental sources of the element.

Effects of dietary copper, molybdenum and sulfur on biliary copper and zinc excretion in Simmental and Angus cattle

The effect of increased dietary copper (Cu), molybdenum (Mo) and sulfur (S) on biliary Cu and zinc (Zn) excretion was studied in four Angus and four Simmental heifers surgically prepared for bile collection. Initially, two of each breed were fed a low(L)-Cu and two a high(H)-Cu diet for 2 mo. All animals were then transferred sequentially to diets containing LCu–HS for 1.5 mo, HCu–HS for 2 mo, HCu–HMo for 2 mo and HCu–HMo–HS for 2 mo. Bile flow and biliary Cu and Zn concentration were measured on two consecutive days each month. Plasma Cu concentrations were measured once monthly. Biliary Cu concentrations (mg L−1) and bile Cu excretion (mg 6h−1) were greater (P &lt; 0.05) in cattle fed the HCu diet than those fed the LCu diet. The greatest overall excretion of Cu (P &lt; 0.05) occurred during feeding of the HCu–HMo–HS diet. Dietary concentrations of Cu, Mo or S did not affect the biliary Zn concentration except in cattle fed the LCu diet when Zn excretion was low. The present study describes for the first time a breed difference in biliary Cu excretion in cattle. Biliary Cu concentration was higher (P &lt; 0.001) in the Simmental cattle than in the Angus cattle. Biliary Cu excretion during the first day of each 2-d sampling period was significantly higher than during the second day. This was a combined effect of a greater bile flow (P &lt; 0.005) and biliary Cu concentration (P &lt; 0.05). In contrast, both biliary Zn concentration and biliary Zn excretion were higher (P &lt; 0.0001) during the second day of sampling. Diet-related changes in plasma total Cu and the trichloroacetic acid (TCA) - soluble Cu were evident. The highest TCA-soluble Cu concentration was observed during feeding of the HCu diet. A decline in plasma Cu concentration occurred during HS feeding. A TCA-insoluble plasma Cu fraction could be detected only during HCu–HMo–HS feeding. These experiments support the view that at least one of the mechanisms by which excess dietary levels of Mo and S induce hypocuprosis in ruminants is by increasing biliary Cu excretion. Key words: Copper, molybdenum, sulfur, biliary excretion, cattle

Copper and molybdenum absorption by rats given ammonium tetrathiomolybdate

Previous studies have shown that the tetrathiomolybdate ion [MoS 4 2− ] is a potent antagonist of Cu metabolism. Effects of orally administered MoS 4 2− on the absorption and tissue distribution of 64Cu in rats have now been investigated. Four or 12 mg Mo/kg diet, when given as MoS 4 2− , strongly inhibited 64Cu absorption and modified the fate of absorbed Cu, decreasing hepatic and renal uptake but increasing plasma retention of 64Cu. These effects were not induced by equivalent dietary concentrations of Mo as MoS 4 2− or when S 2− was given as CaS. Clinical and biochemical effects induced by orally administered MoS 4 2− were abolished by increasing dietary concentrations of Cu. Such treatment also inhibited the absorption and tissue retention of 99Mo derived from 99MoS 4 2− . Intraperitoneal administration of Cu ameliorated clinical effects attributable to MoS 4 2− but neither inhibited 99Mo absorption nor the appearance of systemic defects in Cu metabolism. Since the absorption of MoS 4 2− (or its derivatives) from the gastrointestinal tract is inhibited by Cu, it is evident that the site of its action as an antagonist influencing either the absorption or the subsequent metabolic fate of Cu depends upon the ratio Cu/MoS 4 2− in the diet.