Researchers at Texas Tech University in Amarillo have been investigating the effects of copper additives in pig feed on the animals’ gut health and microbial shedding. Copper is known for its antimicrobial properties, and pigs can tolerate high levels of the metal. The researchers developed small beads containing copper that effectively deliver the metal to the animal’s gut, where it remains for a longer period compared to being consumed and absorbed in the stomach.
In laboratory experiments, the researchers found that exposing Salmonella to the copper bead solution led to significant reductions in the population of the bacterial pathogen. This prompted them to conduct animal experiments to see if the copper beads could also reduce microbial pathogens in the gut. They divided a group of 48 6-month-old pigs into two groups, with one group receiving feed with added copper beads and the other receiving normal feed. Feces were collected from the pigs throughout the study to measure copper levels and identify microbial species.
The researchers focused on two families of bacteria, Enterobacteriaceae and lactic acid bacteria, as indicators of how the copper changed the gut microbiome. Results showed that animals in the experimental group had significantly higher levels of copper in their feces compared to the control group, indicating that the beads effectively delivered the metal. However, the copper additive led to higher levels of Enterobacteriaceae and lower levels of lactic acid bacteria in the control group, contrary to the researchers’ expectations. It is suspected that the decrease in lactic acid bacteria allowed Enterobacteriaceae to colonize the gut more easily.
Despite the unexpected results, the researchers are not discouraged and see this as the first step in their project. The ultimate goal is to design a “pre-harvest intervention” that enhances the gut health of animals before they are slaughtered and processed for food. The next step in the research is to target specific pathogenic microbes using the copper beads and optimize the gut health benefits. By further refining the use of copper additives in pig feed, researchers hope to find a way to promote animal health and reduce the shedding of microbial pathogens to the environment.
The slow-release mechanism of the copper beads in the animal system allows for prolonged exposure to the metal in the gut, potentially enhancing its antimicrobial effects and promoting gut health in pigs. Further research is needed to understand the complex interactions between copper, gut microbiome, and microbial pathogens to develop effective interventions for improving animal health and reducing the spread of harmful bacteria in pig farming operations. The use of copper additives in animal feed could have implications for food safety and public health by reducing the presence of pathogenic bacteria in livestock.