Comparison of the Microbiome-Metabolome Response to Copper Sulfate and Copper Glycinate in Growing Pigs.

This study aims to compare the fecal microbiome-metabolome response to copper sulfate (CuSO) and copper glycinate (Cu-Gly) in pigs. Twelve Meishan gilts were allocated into the CuSO group and the Cu-Gly group (fed on a basal diet supplemented with 60 mg/kg copper from CuSO or Cu-Gly) paired in litter and body weight. After a two-week feeding trial, the Cu-Gly group had a higher copper digestibility, blood hemoglobin, and platelet volume and higher levels of plasma iron and insulin-like growth factor-1 than the CuSO group. The Cu-Gly treatment increased the abundance of the family and the genera , , , , and and decreased the abundance of the phylum and family compared to the CuSO treatment. Moreover, the Cu-Gly group had a lower concentration of 20-Oxo-leukotriene E4 and higher concentrations of butyric acid, pentanoic acid, isopentanoic acid, coumarin, and Nb-p-Coumaroyl-tryptamine than the CuSO group. The abundance of was positively correlated with the fecal copper content and negatively correlated with the fecal butyric acid content. The abundance of the genus was positively correlated with the plasma iron level and fecal contents of coumarin and butyric acid. In conclusion, Cu-Gly and CuSO could differentially affect fecal microbiota and metabolites, which partially contributes to the intestinal health of pigs in different manners.