Effects of level of dietary copper sulphate and period of feeding on the laying, domestic fowl, with special reference to tissue mineral content.

1. A cereal-based diet containing 7.6 mg copper/kg was fed ad lib. to laying hens for up to 48 d. Four other groups were given the control diet to which was added hydrated copper sulphate to provide 250, 500, 1000 and 2000 mg added Cu/kg. 2. Hens were killed on day 0 and after 3, 6, 12, 24 and 48 d. Records were kept of body-weight, food consumption, egg production and egg weight. 3. After slaughter blood haemoglobin, packed cell volume, serum Cu and aspartate aminotransferase (AAT; EC 2.6.1.1) were measured. The liver, kidneys, a sample of breast muscle, oviduct, ovary and gizzard were weighed. Gizzard, spleen, liver and kidney tissue were examined histologically. 4. The Cu, zinc and iron concentrations of liver, kidneys and breast muscle and the manganese concentrations of liver and kidneys were determined. 5. Body-weight loss occurred at 500-2000 mg added Cu/kg diet. Egg production was depressed by level of added Cu and period of time on the Cu-containing diets. 6. Mean liver, kidney, oviduct and ovarian weights per unit body-weight were depressed by Cu in the diet and the effect increased with period of time on the diets. Mean gizzard weight per unit body-weight was increased by dietary added Cu and by time. 7. Cu concentrations in the liver were increased by dietary level of added Cu and period of time on the diet. Zn concentration in liver increased at 1000 and 2000 mg added Cu/kg diet and liver Fe concentration was increased at these levels. Histological examination of the gizzard indicated that the Cu content of the gizzard lining increased with dietary added Cu.