The effect of dietary copper supplementation in on the concentration of copper in equine serum, hoof and hair

This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of dietary copper supplementation on the concentration of this element in equine serum, hair and hoof. Forty stallions were divided in two groups of control and treatment each consisting of 20 horses. Copper sulfate was supplied in the diet of the treatment group for 2 months. Blood samples were taken from jugular vein of all horses on days 0, 15, 30, 45 and 60 and the sera were separated. Samples from hair and hoof were also collected. The concentration of copper in these samples was analyzed by atomic absorption spectrometry. In the control group, mean serumic concentration of copper diet not show any significant changes from day 0 to 60 but in the treatment group there were significant differences between different sampling days (p= 0.000). Mean copper concentration on the hair of the control group did not show a significant difference between different sampling days but in the treatment group a non significant increase was observed (p= 0.056). There was no significant difference in mean copper concentration of hoof in both treatment groups (p= 0.055, p= 0.481). There was a significant correlation between mean concentration of copper in the serum and hair and hoof at most sampling times. In conclusion, dietary supplementation of copper for 2 months leads to its significant serumic increase and non significant increase in hair and hoof of horses and considering the protective effects of copper on skin and also hoof, its dietary supplementation is recommended in sports horses.