High dietary copper improves odor characteristics of swine waste.

We conducted two experiments to determine the effects of dietary copper concentration and source on odor characteristics of swine waste. In both experiments, 192 weanling gilts and barrows were allotted to 24 pens. Pens were randomly assigned to one of six dietary treatments, consisting of control (10 ppm Cu as cupric sulfate, CuSO4), 66 or 225 ppm Cu as CuSO4, or 33, 66, or 100 ppm Cu as cupric citrate (Cucitrate). An antibiotic was included in the diets for Exp. 1, but not Exp. 2. On d 28, fecal samples were randomly obtained from one pig per pen and stored at -20 degrees C until preparation and evaluation by an odor panel. The odor panel consisted of 10 individuals, and each panelist evaluated the odor intensity, irritation intensity, and odor quality of the samples. In Exp. 1, the odor and irritation intensity of the feces were lower (P < .05) from animals consuming diets containing 225 ppm Cu as CuSO4 and 66 or 100 ppm Cu as Cu-citrate compared to the control. The odor quality of the waste from animals consuming diets containing 225 ppm Cu as CuSO4 and 66 or 100 ppm Cu as Cu-citrate was improved (P < .05) compared to the 33 ppm Cu treatment. In Exp. 2, the odor intensity of the feces of pigs receiving diets supplemented with all concentrations of Cu-citrate was lower (P < .05) than that of feces from the control animals. Irritation intensity of the feces was not affected by treatment. Odor quality of waste of pigs supplemented with 225 ppm Cu from CuSO4 and all concentrations of Cu-citrate was improved (P < .05) compared to that of waste of the control pigs. Two gilts and two barrows from each nursery pen in Exp. 1 were continued through the growing-finishing phase on their respective experimental diets. The growing-finishing phase lasted 103 d, and fecal samples were randomly obtained from one pig per pen at the completion of the phase. During the growing-finishing phase, the odor intensity and the irritation intensity of the feces were lower (P < .05) from pigs supplemented with 66 and 225 ppm Cu as CuSO4 and 66 and 100 ppm Cu from Cu-citrate than from the control pigs. The odor quality of the waste was improved (P < .05) in all animals receiving supplemental Cu. These data indicate an improvement in odor characteristics of swine waste with the supplementation of Cu. In addition, lower concentrations of an organic nonsulfate Cu source resulted in similar odor characteristics of swine waste as 225 ppm CuSO4.