The effects of additional organic copper and organic zinc trace minerals on accumulation and elimination levels in female kids

Abstract

This study was conducted to evaluate the accumulation of copper and zinc in serum, hair and feaces of goats fed diets supplemented with organic Cu and Zn at levels of 25% lower than NRC (12) recommendations. Totally female kids were divided equally into two groups fed rations supplemented with organic (treatment, n=12) and inorganic (control, n=12) copper and zinc. Treatment diets was supplemented with 5.25 mg/kg DM copper chelate (2-hydroxy-4-methylthiobutyrate) and 15 mg/kg DM zinc chelate (2-hydroxy-4-methylthiobutyrate) whereas control diet was supplemented 7 mg/kg DM copper sulphate, 20 mg/kg DM zinc sulphate in the ration. At the end of the experiment in both treatments copper and zinc levels in serum and copper and zinc levels in hair samples were found higher than the average values at the beginning of the experiment, but the difference between the average values were not statistically significant. The average copper and zinc levels in serum and copper levels in hair samples of treatment group were found numerically higher than control group. Moreover the average zinc levels in hair samples were also numerically higher in control group. At the end of the study, the average faeces copper and zinc levels (P<0.001) were significantly lower in the treatment group. Although organic copper and zinc were given to the female kids in low levels (at level of 25%), we confirmed that this amount gave similar results to inorganic copper and zinc and organic minerals were found at lower levels in the faeces.