Li Fan, Liu Lei, Chen Xiaoyang, Zhang Bin, Li Fuchang
College of Animal Science and Technology, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an, 271018, People's Republic of China.
Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Biotechnology and Disease Control and Prevention, Tai'an, 271018, People's Republic of China.
Biol Trace Elem Res. 2021 Dec;199(12):4614-4623. doi: 10.1007/s12011-020-02568-z. Epub 2021 Jan 7.
Copper is often used as a growth promoter, at the same time copper is one of the most important essential trace elements for fur animals, especially Rex rabbits. However, too much copper added to the diet may harm animal health, and copper excreted in feces can pollute the environment. In this study, 3-month-old Rex rabbits were randomly divided into four groups and fed a basal diet containing 0, 30, 60, or 120 mg/kg Cu for 5 weeks. The diet supplemented with 30 mg/kg Cu significantly increased (P < 0.05) the average daily feed intake (ADFI) and the average daily gain (ADG) and also the activity of serum Cu-Zn (zinc) superoxide dismutase and the digestibility of ether extract. Supplemental Cu up to 120 mg/kg did not significantly adversely affect the Zn metabolism of growing Rex rabbits. Overall, the data in this study indicate that 30 mg/kg is the optimal level of Cu supplementation in the diet of growing Rex rabbits. The results will provide a reference to improve the breeding of Rex rabbits and possibly other animals. In follow-up studies, the amount of copper in the diet should be reduced as much as possible from the baseline of 30 mg/kg copper.
铜常被用作生长促进剂，同时铜是毛皮动物尤其是獭兔最重要的必需微量元素之一。然而，日粮中添加过多的铜可能会损害动物健康，且随粪便排出的铜会污染环境。本研究中，将3月龄獭兔随机分为四组，分别饲喂含0、30、60或120 mg/kg铜的基础日粮5周。添加30 mg/kg铜的日粮显著提高了（P < 0.05）平均日采食量（ADFI）、平均日增重（ADG），以及血清铜锌超氧化物歧化酶的活性和乙醚提取物的消化率。日粮中添加高达120 mg/kg的铜对生长獭兔的锌代谢没有显著的不利影响。总体而言，本研究数据表明，30 mg/kg是生长獭兔日粮中铜的最佳添加水平。这些结果将为改善獭兔及可能其他动物的养殖提供参考。在后续研究中，日粮中的铜含量应尽可能从30 mg/kg铜的基线水平降低。
