Your feed must contain trace element copper

Trace element copper is an essential element of all living things and is an energy source that provides the operation of life activities. It plays an extremely important role in animals, and all farm animal owners will not forget to supplement their animals with copper feed additives. Moreover, copper is one of the most easily missing elements, so it should be paid more attention and added in time. This article will explore the trace element copper.

This article contains the following:

• Transport metabolic process

• Application of trace element copper

• Matters needing attention

1、Transport metabolic process

• Transportation of copper in the blood

Trace element copper is mainly absorbed in the small intestine in the form of a stable chelate. After copper enters the blood, copper is used as a transport tool, and cells take copper from ceruloplasmin. Another route of transmission of copper is to bind to albumin histidine in plasma and enter the cell through free ion channels on the surface of the cell membrane.

• Copper transport on the cell membrane

Some people mistakenly believe that trace element copper can enter the cell for metabolism only through the above two channels. In recent years, it has been found that copper converts divalent copper ions into monovalent copper ions by the cell surface reductase Frel/Fre2 before entering the cell, and enters the cell as a monovalent copper ion. In the study of yeast copper ion transport, it was found that there are specific transporters of copper on the cell membrane of yeast - Ctrl and Ctr3, which are specific and stable to the transport of copper ions. It was later discovered that this copper-specific transporter, the coppertransporter protein, is also present on mammalian cell membranes to transport monovalent copper from outside the cell to the inside of the cell.

• Copper excretion

Excretion of copper is carried out by bile secretion, and the amino acids in the bile are combined with copper and excreted in the feces. A small part is excreted by the intestinal wall and a small amount is excreted by the urine. Both feces and copper in the urine are complexes of proteins. In addition, a very small part of the copper is excreted by the sweat glands.

2、Application of trace element copper

As a feed additive, trace element copper is generally represented by the compound copper sulfate. Appearance is blue or blue-green crystal, no visible foreign impurities. The application in various animals is both lacking as follows.

Adding appropriate amount of copper sulfate feed additive to pig feed can improve the digestion and absorption of nutrients in the feed, antibacterial growth and promote growth hormone secretion. High copper feed can make piglets resistant to diarrhea and grow faster. The stool is black.

The addition of copper sulphate feed additive to chicken feed promotes bone development and improves feather pigmentation, maintains blood vessel elasticity, promotes iron synthesis of heme, and promotes red blood cell maturation. If there is a lack of copper in the chicken feed, it will cause anemia and abnormal bones.

Trace element copper is the most easily deficient mineral element in the feed of cattle and sheep. Phosphorus deficiency in cattle and sheep will cause ataxia, hair discoloration, cardiovascular disease and low fertility.

Sika deer feed plus copper feed additive can improve the digestive function of sika deer gastrointestinal tract. Adding copper can improve the digestion ability of protein, phosphorus and fiber. The suitable addition level of copper in the feed season is 15-40mg/kg. The amino acid content was 40 mg/kg.

3、Matters needing attention

• Animals of different ages have different levels of absorption of copper feed additives in diets: adult animals absorb about 5% to 10% of copper in diets, and young animals reach 15% to 30%, while weaning Lambs can absorb up to 40% to 65% of copper.

• Pay attention to the amount of addition, excessive addition of this product will cause copper poisoning.

• The addition of copper in the feed will promote the oxidation and rancidity of unsaturated fatty acids, while vitamins have a destructive effect, should be noted when using.

• The copper content in the feed is too high, will cause copper accumulation in the liver of the animal, may have adverse effects on human consumption

• Should be stored in a cool, dry place.

Trace element copper feed additives are indispensable because they play an extremely important role in animals. If they are lacking, they will have serious consequences. Of course, too much enrichment will cause a series of problems. The importance of copper feed additives is not only important in itself, but its method of use is also important.