Abstract

Aim of the study was to investigate the effect of supplementation of inorganic (copper sulphate) and organic (copper proteinate and copper propionate) sources of copper at different levels (@ ½ of BIS, BIS and twice of BIS requirement of copper, in conventional Type 1 BIS mineral mixture) on in vitro rumen fermentation parameters. The in vitro rumen fermentation and digestibility was measured using in vitro gas production test (IVGPT). The gas production (ml/200mg substrate) did not vary significantly at any of the dose level supplemented with inorganic copper sulphate whereas in the both of the organic groups the gas production was significantly (P< 0.05) lower at 2BIS level. The IVDMD (%) was significantly higher (P< 0.05) at BIS level in all the sources of copper supplementation. The pH decreased significantly (P< 0.05) in each source of copper at BIS level (0.078%) compared to control and treatment group that had 0.039 % and 0.156 % level of supplementation. The partitioning factor (PF) did not vary significantly in any source and dose of the copper. Hence it can be concluded that supplementation of different sources of copper had no effect on ruminal fermentation parameters. However, level of supplementation had shown significant depression in pH and higher in vitro dry matter digestibility at BIS level of supplementation.

Key words: Copper, Inorganic, Organic, In-vitro