Effect of copper supplementation on the copper status of pasture-fed young Thoroughbreds.
Abstract: The effect of copper supplementation of pasture fed mares and foals on the copper status of the foals, in terms of plasma, soft tissue and bone copper concentrations and caeruloplasmin activity, was investigated. Twenty-one Thoroughbred foals from either control mares (n = 9), or copper-supplemented mares (n = 12) were divided randomly into control (pasture only, n = 10) or supplemented (pasture and oral copper sulphate, n = 11) groups. The pasture diet was grazed by all animals, and contained 4.4-8.6 mg Cu/kg dry matter (DM). The copper supplement for the mares contained copper sulphate equivalent to 0.5 mg Cu/kg liveweight (LW)/day. This daily dose was converted to allow administration as a thrice weekly dose (i.e. multiplied by 7/3) which was given for 13-25 weeks prior to foaling. The supplemented foals, also dosed 3 times a week, received 0.2 mg Cu/kg LW/day at age 21 days, which was increased to 0.5 mg Cu/kg LW/day at 49 days and was continued at this level until euthanasia at 150 days. Foal plasma copper concentration and caeruloplasmin activity increased from birth to 21 days post partum and then plateaued at a concentration similar to the mare, but the rise in these indices was not affected by copper supplementation of the mare or foal. Copper supplementation of the foal increased foal liver copper concentration at 150 days (P<0.03). Copper intake of diets containing approximately 8-28 mg Cu/kg DM is well reflected by liver copper concentration, but is poorly reflected by bone, other soft tissue copper concentrations and circulating copper status indices.
Publication Date: 1998-06-11 PubMed ID: 9622321DOI: 10.1111/j.2042-3306.1998.tb04489.xGoogle Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
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This study examines how supplementing the diet of young, pasture-fed Thoroughbred horses with copper affects their overall copper status. The study found that while copper supplementation did not impact certain indices such as plasma copper concentration and caeruloplasmin activity, it did noticeably increase copper concentration in the liver.
Research Purpose and Methodology
- The study aimed to explore the effects of feeding copper supplements to young Thoroughbred horses who were pasture-fed, in terms of copper levels in their plasma, soft tissue, and bones, as well as activity of the protein enzyme caeruloplasmin.
- The research involved a total of 21 Thoroughbred foals, some of which were from mares that had not received copper supplementation (9 foals) and some from mares that had (12 foals). These were randomly assigned to control and supplemented groups.
- All horses were fed a pasture diet containing 4.4-8.6 mg of copper per kg of dry matter. The copper supplement for mares corresponded to 0.5 mg of copper per kg of live weight daily, converted to a thrice-weekly dosage.
- The foals receiving supplementation were given 0.2 mg copper per kg live weight from 21 days old. This dose was increased to 0.5 mg per kg live weight at 49 days and maintained until the study end at 150 days.
Research Findings
- The study found no impact of copper supplementation on plasma copper concentration or caeruloplasmin activity, either in mares or foals. An increase in these measures was observed from birth to 21 days out, after which levels plateaued and became akin to those in the mare.
- On the other hand, a noteworthy effect was seen in liver copper concentration at 150 days in foals receiving copper supplementation.
- This research implies that liver copper concentration is a better indicator of copper intake than bone or other soft tissue copper concentrations, or circulating copper status indices.
- The reflected intake of copper was most pronounced in diets containing roughly 8-28 mg copper per kg dry matter.
Cite This Article
APA
Pearce SG, Grace ND, Firth EC, Wichtel JJ, Holle SA, Fennessy PF.
(1998).
Effect of copper supplementation on the copper status of pasture-fed young Thoroughbreds.
Equine Vet J, 30(3), 204-210.
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.2042-3306.1998.tb04489.x Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Science, Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand.
MeSH Terms
- Administration, Oral
- Analysis of Variance
- Animal Feed
- Animals
- Animals, Newborn / blood
- Animals, Newborn / metabolism
- Animals, Newborn / physiology
- Bone Development / physiology
- Ceruloplasmin / analysis
- Cervical Atlas / chemistry
- Copper / analysis
- Copper / blood
- Copper / deficiency
- Copper Sulfate / administration & dosage
- Dietary Supplements
- Erythrocytes / chemistry
- Female
- Horses / blood
- Horses / metabolism
- Horses / physiology
- Ilium / chemistry
- Intestines / chemistry
- Male
- Pregnancy
- Random Allocation
- Regression Analysis
- Stomach / chemistry
Citations
This article has been cited 1 times.- Stahl LT, Müller A, Krohn J, Büttner K, Wehrend A. Serum concentrations of selenium, copper, and zinc in neonatal foals: Influence of failure of passive transfer and age-related changes. Can Vet J 2024 May;65(5):481-487.
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