Copper, Molybdenum and Sulfate Interaction in Young Swine

Two experiments were conducted to study the interrelationship of copper, molybdenum and sulfate in growing pigs. Molybdenum (50 ppm) or sulfate (0.4%) supplementation had no effect on the rate of gain of growing pigs fed com-soy diets containing 11 or 16 ppm of copper. After 28 days in one experiment, feed/gain ratios were not changed by sulfate, were increased by molybdenum and were decreased by the combination of molybdenum and sulfate. These effects were not observed after 130 days on experiment. Sulfate significantly decreased ceruloplasmin levels and significantly increased the direct-reading or ionic copper in the plasma of pigs. Molybdenum significantly increased the direct-reading plasma copper in one experiment. Liver copper levels were decreased significantly by molybdenum in one experiment. The addition of potassium carbonate to the diet reduced liver copper storage. Copper retention was unchanged in one experiment and was increased by molybdenum and sulfate in the other experiment. The level of dietary copper may influence the response to molybdenum and sulfate. Sulfate supplementation did not result in an increase in urine volume.