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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Fayetteville, Arkansas » Poultry Production and Product Safety Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #76432
Title: EXCESS DIETARY COPPER TRIGGERS ENLARGEMENT OF THE PROVENTRICULUS IN BROILERS

Author
item WIDEMAN,JR., R. - UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS
item KIRBY, Y. - UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS
item BARTON, T. - UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS
item CLARK, D. - UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS
item Huff, Geraldine
item Huff, William
item Moore, Philip
item DUNN, P. - PENNSYLVANIA STATE UNIV.

Submitted to: Journal of Applied Poultry Research
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/1/1996
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: Suspect feed was collected from two broiler houses in which random necropsies revealed proventricular enlargement (proventriculitis). Feed also was collected from two unaffected houses on the same farm. Broiler chicks received the suspect feed, feed from unaffected houses, and a control feed for 2 wk. Thereafter, all groups were fed control feed until 4 wk of age. The suspect feed caused a 70 to 100% incidence of obvious proventricular enlargement, which was significantly higher than the basal 10- 30% incidence observed in broilers fed control feed or feed from unaffected houses. The incidence of proventricular enlargement reverted to control levels when birds previously fed suspect feed were switched to control feed during the last 2 wk of experiment. The suspect feed contained Cu, added as copper sulfate, in excess of 200ppm. In a second experiment, feeds formulated to contain 0, 250, 500, and 750ppm Cu were fed to broilers for 4 wk. Dietary Cu at and above 250ppm significantly increased the incidence of proventriculitis. Dietary Cu in excess of 200ppm can trigger the classic symptoms of proventricular enlargement and proventriculitis in broilers.

Technical Abstract: Suspect feed was collected from two broiler houses in which random necropsies revealed proventricular enlargement (proventriculitis). Feed also was collected from two unaffected houses on the same farm. Broiler chicks received the suspect feed, feed from unaffected houses, and a control feed for 2 wk. Thereafter, all groups were fed control feed until 4 wk of age. The suspect feed caused a 70 to 100% incidence of obvious proventricular enlargement, which was significantly higher than the basal 10- 30% incidence observed in broilers fed control feed or feed from unaffected houses. The incidence of proventricular enlargement reverted to control levels when birds previously fed suspect feed were switched to control feed during the last 2 wk of experiment. The suspect feed contained Cu, added as copper sulfate, in excess of 200ppm. In a second experiment, feeds formulated to contain 0, 250, 500, and 750ppm Cu were fed to broilers for 4 wk. Dietary Cu at and above 250ppm significantly increased the incidence of proventriculitis. Dietary Cu in excess of 200ppm can trigger the classic symptoms of proventricular enlargement and proventriculitis in broilers.