Impact of copper in piglet feeds debated at PFQC conference

In addition to being an essential nutrient, copper is well known for its growth promoting effect on weaned piglets. Paul Bikker demonstrated that this effect is maintained even under good nutritional and management practices with optimum improvements in faecal consistency and performance observed at 160 ppm of copper supplemented during 8 weeks post weaning.

He also studied the influence of copper sources on piglet weight gain and showed that copper(I) oxide (CoRouge^®) maximizes growth enhancement in comparison to copper sulphate at 15 and 160 mg/kg of supplemented copper.

This monovalent source of copper is authorized in EU since December 2016 and will be registered in most Asian countries in 2018. In contrast to the black divalent copper oxide, CoRouge^® is a red powder with high bioavailability.

June 2018, Animine