EFFECT OF DIETARY-SODIUM BICARBONATE ON GROWTH, LIVER COPPER CONCENTRATION AND INCIDENCE OF GASTRIC-ULCERATION IN PIGS FED EXCESS DIETARY COPPER

An experiment was conducted with growing-finishing pigs to evaluate th e interactive effects of dietary sodium bicarbonate (1%) and excess di etary Cu (250 mg/kg diet) on growth, liver Cu accumulation and inciden ce of gastric ulceration. A 2 x 2 factorial arrangement of treatments was used and each treatment was replicated four (Trial 1) or three (Tr ial 2) times with four pigs per replicate. Initial weight of the pigs was 5 7 (Trial 1) and 32 kg (Trial 2). Growth rate and efficiency of f eed utilization were not affected (P > .10) by treatment. Sodium bicar bonate increased (P < .06) the incidence of gastric ulceration and dec reased (P < .01) dressing percentage. Dietary Cu (P < .01) increased l iver Cu concentration but did not affect (P > .10) the incidence of ga stric ulceration.