Effects of Supplementary Copper-Chelate on the Performance and Cholesterol Level in Plasma and Breast Muscle of Broiler Chickens

An experiment was conducted to determine the effects of supernormal level of copper (Cu) from different supplementary sources on the performance, cholesterol level in plasma and breast muscle, and accumulation of fat and Cu in broilers. In a 5 wk feeding trial, two hundred forty hatched male broiler chickens were assigned to four dietary treatments: control diet containing 10 mg/kg supplementary Cu, control diet plus 250 mg/kg Cu from $CuSO_4$ ($CuSO_4-250$), control diet plus 125 mg/kg Cu from Cu-methionine chelate (Cu-Met-125), and control diet plus 250 mg/kg Cu from Cu-methionine chelate (Cu-Met-250). Weight gain in Cu-Met-125 treatment and Cu-Met-250 treatment were not different, but they were significantly (p