Contribution of additives Cu to its accumulation in pig feces: study in Beijingand Fuxin of China
LI Yan-xia , LI Wei , WU Juan , XU Li-chao , SU Qiu-hong , XIONG Xiong
DOI:
Received May 23, 2006,Revised August 24, 2006, Accepted , Available online
Volume 19,2007,Pages 610-615
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Massive amounts of pig manure are produced by intensive pig farm in China, and the composition of pig manure has changed much
due to the use of feed additives. However, little is known about the exact Cu (copper) feed as additives or present as contaminants in pig
feed and the residues in feces. One hundred and thirty-seven feeds and one hundred and forty-two fecal samples from 48 pig farms were
collected in Beijing and Fuxin cities in 1999 and 2005, respectively. The concentrations of Cu were in the range of 6.86–395.19 mg/kg
in the feed samples, and the mean values were in the order of weaner>grower-finisher>sow's feeds. The high concentrations over EU
recommendations implied that excessive levels of Cu are fed on many pig farms in Beijing and Fuxin. Cu was also present in high
concentrations in feces, and concentrations were highly variable. Cu concentrations in the feces from grower-finisher and weaner pigs
were significantly greater than feces of sows. The super-intensive and small-scale farms had higher levels of Cu in feces than the middle
farms. Cu concentrations in pig feces were approximately 5-times greater than in pig feeds. Feed management in grower-finisher pigs
on super-intensive and small-scale pig farms is needed to reduce high Cu concentrations in feces and risks to soil contamination while
feces are land-applied.
