Growth rate, indicators of slaughter and quality of pork with the additional introduction of a chelated copper complex into the diet of pigs

The efficiency of conducting industrial competitive pig breeding in Ukraine depends on the level of feeding and provision of animals with the necessary biologically active substances. Lack of mineral substances leads to a decrease in growth rates, an increase in the duration of the fattening period, excessive feed consumption, and, accordingly, an increase in the cost of pork, which determines the relevance of the chosen subject. The purpose of the study was to identify the effect of the mineral additive of the copper chelate complex on the meat productivity of hybrid pigs and the quality of pork. the following methods are used to fulfil the purpose of the study: zootechnical (live weight dynamics, determination of average daily and relative gains), biochemical (analysis of chemical composition and microelement content in muscles, indicators of pork quality: moisture content, tenderness, marbling, colour intensity), morphological (slaughter yield parameters determination), and statistical (identification of substantial differences between values). The effectiveness of the chelated copper complex with glycine on the growth intensity of pigs, slaughter parameters, chemical and microelement composition of muscles, and pork quality indicators after cold storage is investigated. It is established that the additional introduction of a chelated copper complex into the diet increased the intensity of average daily weight gain of pigs by 9.1% and relative live weight gain by 4.5 percentage points. From pigs of this group, heavier carcasses were obtained by 4.5 percentage points with a smaller fat thickness over the 6-7 thoracic vertebra by 10.6% and an internal fat mass of 7.5%, and 9.7% more internal organs. Pork was obtained from animals of the experimental group with a lower fat content by 10.0 percentage points, a higher protein content – by 3.9 percentage points, and ash – by 12.1 percentage points. The diet with a chelated copper complex increased the moisture capacity and tenderness of pork after cold ageing, and helped reduce the caloric content of meat. The concentration of minerals in muscle tissue in the experimental group was higher in terms of copper, manganese, cobalt, iron, and zinc. Based on the obtained data, the possibility of effective feeding of the copper chelate complex with glycine to fattening pigs was established