Effects of Supplementary Copper Chelates in the Form of Methionine, Chitosan and Yeast on the Performance of Broilers*

An experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of supplemental copper (Cu) chelates (methionine, chitosan and yeast) on the performance, nutrient digestibility, serum IgG level, gizzard erosion, Cu content in the liver and excreta and the level of total cholesterol in breast muscle and serum of broiler chickens. Two hundred and forty hatched broiler chickens (Ross 208) were assigned to 4 treatments: control, 100 ppm Cu in methionine chelate (Met-Cu), 100 ppm Cu in chitosan chelate (Chitosan-Cu) and 100 ppm Cu in yeast chelate (Yeast-Cu). Each treatment had six replicates of 10 (5 males+5 females) birds each. Weight gain and feed intake tended to be higher in Cu chelate treatments than the control; weight gain was significantly higher in the Met-Cu chelate treatment and feed intake was significantly higher in the Yeast -Cu chelate treatment than the control (p<0.05). Feed/gain was significantly different between treatments in which Met-Cu was lowest followed by the control, Chitosan-Cu and Yeast-Cu. DM availability was increased by Cu chelates among which chitosan-Cu showed the highest DM availability. Cu chelates supplementation tended to increase gizzard erosion index, and Cu content in the liver was highest in the Met-Cu treatment. Supplementation of Cu chelates tended to decrease total cholesterol level in breast muscle and serum but tended to increase the level of HDL in serum. It was concluded that dietary supplementation of 100 ppm Cu in chelates increased weight gain, feed intake and DM availability. Met-Cu was more effective than Chitosan-Cu or Yeast-Cu in improving productivity of broiler chickens. (