1Department of Animal Nutrition, West Bengal University of Animal and Fishery Sciences, Kolkata-700 037, India.
2Department of Agricultural Statistics, Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya, Nadia-741 252, India.
Twelve healthy castrated 3–4 month old male Black Bengal kids were selected and randomly divided into three groups to study the effect of supplementation of different forms of Cu (CuSO4 and Cu-proteinate) at 10 ppm level on plasma lipid profile and mineral balance. A basal diet (5.7 ppm Cu) was formulated to meet all the nutrient requirements except Cu. Group 1 (C) was offered the basal diet alone, whereas it was supplemented with 10 ppm CuSO4 (T1) and 10 ppm Cu-proteinate (T2) in the treatment groups. A metabolic trial of 5 d duration was conducted after 90 d feeding period. Blood samples were collected at 0 day and subsequently at monthly intervals for studying the plasma lipid profile (cholesterol, high density lipoprotein, total lipid and phospholipids) and mineral profiles (Ca, P, Cu, Fe, Zn and Mn). At 0 d, concentrations of all the plasma lipid profile were similar (P>0.05) among the treatments. In both the Cu supplemented groups, plasma cholesterol was decreased (P<0.05) and high density lipoprotein (HDL), total lipid and phospholipids were increased (P<0.05) as compared to control. Linear effect (P<0.01) of period was found for the entire plasma lipid profile whereas, quadratic effect (P<0.01) was found in plasma HDL and total lipid concentration. Plasma Ca, P, Fe, Zn and Mn were unaffected (P>0.05) by the dietary treatments during the study. From 30 d onwards, the addition of Cu consistently increased (P<0.05) for kids fed Cu from either CuSO4 or Cu-proteinate than control. Urinary excretion of Cu was more (P<0.05) in Cu supplemented kids compared to control. Absorption and retention (%) of Ca, Fe and Zn follow the same trend (P<0.05) as observed in case of Cu. Results inferred that supplementation of Cu in the diet of kids can alter plasma lipid profile and minerals concentration. Further, it can also improve the absorption percentages and retention of minerals. Cu-proteinate was found to be more effective for mineral balance than CuSO4.
Plasma lipid, Copper, Kids, Copper-proteinate, Mineral balance
