Role of zinc and copper in growth performance of weaning piglets

Trace mineral supplementation in newly weaned piglets is essential for efficient growth performance. The present experiment was designed to validate the role of zinc and copper during the growing period. A total of fifteen weaned piglets (10.60 ± 0.345 kg body weight; 60 days of age) were divided into three equal groups and were supplemented with 100ppm zinc and 10ppm copper (group A), 200ppm zinc and 20ppm copper (group B) and 300ppm zinc and 30ppm copper (group C) for a period of 4 months. The BWG, ADG and FCR improved significantly (p< 0.01) in groups B and C. Histologicaly, increase in intestinal thickness, duodenal gland size, hyperplasia and hypertrophy of goblet cells, villi height, crypt depth and payer patches were observed in group B and C than the corresponding group A. The present study established that above 100 ppm Zn and 10 ppm Cu enhanced the growth performances of pigs.