Induction of oral lesions in broiler chicks by supplementing the diet with copper.
Copper sulfate was added to the diet of broiler chickens from 1 day to 3 weeks of age at the rate of 0.05% to 0.20% in order to evaluate its influence on the incidence of oral lesions. Both the incidence and severity of oral lesions showed a significant linear increase as the concentration of copper sulfate increased. Adding a level of sulfate equivalent to that produced by the highest level of copper sulfate failed to induce oral lesions. The severity of gizzard erosion also increased as the concentration of copper increased. Dietary copper sulfate supplementation should be considered a possible cause of oral lesions seen during the necropsy of avian species.
Jensen
L S
LS
Department of Poultry Science, University of Georgia, Athens 30602.
Dunn
P A
PA
Dobson
K N
KN
D000821:Animal Feed; D000818:Animals; D002645:Chickens; D003300:Copper / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000633:toxicity*; D019327:Copper Sulfate; D005895:Gizzard, Avian / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D009055:Mouth / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D009059:Mouth Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000662:veterinary*; D011201:Poultry Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced*; D011531:Proventriculus / Q000187:drug effects; D012044:Regression Analysis
D003300:Copper; D019327:Copper Sulfate