Effect of Added Dietary Levels of Copper Sulfate and an Antibiotic on Performance and Certain Blood Constituents of Calves

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Abstract
TWO 98-day experiments were conducted to determine the effect of added dietary levels of copper sulfate and an antibiotic on performance, blood constituents and liver copper levels of young growing calves. In both experiments four levels of copper and two levels of chlortetracycline were compared in a 2 × 4 factorial arrangement. Added dietary copper levels of 0, 125, 250 and 500 ppm were fed in Experiment I and 0, 300, 600 and 900 ppm in Experiment II. Each of the copper levels was fed with and without 22 mg chlortetracycline/kg feed. Results of Experiment I and II indicated a significant (P<.05) increase in average daily gain due to chlortetracycline. Copper increased average daily gain significantly (P<.05) only in Experiment II. Also present in Experiment II was a significant (P<.05) interaction between chlortetracycline and copper in that copper levels gave no additional response over that observed from chlortetracycline. Carcass gain and percent shrink showed a significant (P<.05) increase due to added copper in Experiment II but not in Experiment I. In both experiments liver copper levels indicated a highly significant (P<.01) increase due to copper levels fed. Serum calcium levels in Experiment II were significantly (P<.05) decreased in calves receiving chlortetracycline. Other blood constituents in both experiments indicated no changes due to treatments. Rumen VFA analyses obtained at the end of Experiment II showed no response to treatments. Copyright © 1973. American Society of Animal Science . Copyright 1973 by American Society of Animal Science.

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