Potential Effects of Different Dietary Copper Sources to Improve Productive Performance, Plasma Biochemical Parameters and Oxidative Response Activities of Broiler Chickens

This investigation was established to assess the effect of dietary different copper sources and levels supplementation on growth performance, plasma biochemical parameters and antioxidant activities of broiler chickens. Four hundred and twenty-one-day-old chicks (Ross 308) were randomly allocated into 7 experimental treatment (n= 60 birds per each).At the end of the experiment, results obtained revealed that birds fed basal diet with inorganic or organic Cu had significantly (P < 0.05) better live body weight, weight gain and feed conversion ratio, while feed intake was reduced comparison with control group. Chicks supplemented with organic CuNo3 significantly (P < 0.05) improved growth performance s compared with the other groups. Considerable reductions in plasma total cholesterol and triglyceride, high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDLC), low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) were detected in the group that fed diet with 125 mg / kg diet Cu in comparison with other diets. Plasma glutathione (GPX), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and total antioxidant activity (T-AOC) were significantly enhanced with Cu-supplemented diets, while malondialdehyde (MDA) was significantly declined in the experimental groups compared with the control group. In conclusion, Cu supplemented at level of 125 mg/ kg diet either copper nitrate or copper sulfate improved the productive performance, profile of lipid metabolism and oxidative response enzymes of broiler chickens. Broilers fed organic form of copper (copper nitrite) had better growth and immune response than those fed inorganic form of copper (copper sulfate) sulfate.