Effects of hot-melt extruded nano-copper on the Cu bioavailability and growth of broiler chickens

This study was aimed to investigate the Cu bioavailability, growth response, digestibility of nutrients, and blood metabolites of broiler chicks fed CuSO4 in nano or common forms. A total of 720 broiler chickens were distributed between eight treatments according to a completely randomized design. There were 8 treatments and 6 replicates in each treatment with 15 birds/replicate. The treatments were divided into common copper sulfate at the doses of 16 ppm, 40 ppm, 80 ppm, and 120 ppm (INO) and hot-melt extruded copper sulfate at the doses of 16 ppm, 40 ppm, 80 ppm, and 120 ppm (HME-Cu). The experiment was operated for 35 days in 2 phases (phase 1, d 0 to 14; and phase 2, d 15 to 35). No significant differences were shown in growth performance, feed intake, FCR, and nutrient digestibility among the treatments. The concentration of Cu in the serum was increased in the HME-Cu broilers compared with the INO broilers at phase 2. A linear increase was observed in the concentration of Cu in the liver in broilers fed INO diets, however, no significant differences were observed by the supplementation of HME-Cu levels. The linear increase was detected in the content of Cu in excreta in the INO and HME-Cu treatments by increasing the dietary Cu content. The HME-Cu treatments showed a lower Cu concentration in the excreta compared with the INO treatments. The higher bioavailability of Cu in HME form can decrease the recommended dose of Cu in broiler diets.