A Kansas State University (KSU) study has confirmed that pharmacological copper supplementation improves growth performance in finishing pigs, with the strongest effects seen during the grower phase.
Trial overview
The 113-day trial involved 2160 pigs divided into pens and fed either a control diet with basal copper or diets containing an additional 150 mg/kg copper.
Copper was supplied from tribasic copper chloride (two sources) or copper sulfate. All diets included a base level of copper from a trace mineral premix, tapering from 16 mg/kg in early phases to 11 mg/kg in the final phase.
Performance outcomes
Results showed clear advantages for pigs fed pharmacological copper:
- ✅ Grower period (day 0–56): Higher average daily gain and body weight, with tendencies for greater feed intake and improved feed efficiency.
- ✅ Finisher period (day 56–end): No significant differences in growth or feed efficiency.
- ✅ Overall: Higher average daily gain and heavier hot carcass weights, with no changes in carcass yield, backfat, loin depth, or lean percentage.
Mortality and removals did not differ between treatments, indicating copper supplementation did not affect health outcomes.
Economic findings
Feed cost per pound of gain tended to rise with copper supplementation. However, income over feed cost remained stable, showing that profitability was not negatively impacted. Importantly, no differences were observed between copper sources, giving producers flexibility in ingredient selection.
Implications for pig production
The study reinforces copper’s role as a growth promoter in swine diets, particularly during the grower phase. Heavier carcasses at marketing provide added value without compromising carcass quality. Producers can adopt copper supplementation to accelerate growth and improve market weights while maintaining economic efficiency.
Regional implications
For Southeast Asian producers, the findings carry added weight. Rapidly expanding swine industries in countries such as Vietnam, Thailand, and the Philippines face rising demand for pork. Faster growth in the grower phase can shorten production cycles, while heavier carcasses strengthen supply. Flexibility in copper source selection is especially relevant in a region where feed ingredient imports vary widely.
By applying pharmacological copper supplementation, pig producers in the region may enhance efficiency and competitiveness, supporting stable pork supplies in increasingly urbanized markets.