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Copper Metabolism and Requirement in Mature Ponies

Equine Research Program, New York State College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY

The effects of copper intake on stable copper and ⁶⁴Cu metabolism and on the excretory pathways of absorbed copper were examined in ponies. Bile and feces collected from two bile duct-cannulated ponies following an intravenous dose of ⁶⁴Cu showed that bile was the main route of endogenous copper excretion. Stable copper and ⁶⁴Cu metabolism were examined in three intact ponies fed dietary copper to provide 5.6, 16.6 and 25.7 mg Cu/100 kg body weight/day. The amount of copper excreted in urine was not influenced by dietary treatment. Stable copper absorption and ⁶⁴Cu retention significantly increased when ponies were fed the low copper ration. A direct linear relationship was observed between ⁶⁴Cu excretion in feces and copper intake. Isotope dilution methods and regression analyses of data from balance studies were used to estimate an obligatory copper loss in ponies of approximately 3.5 mg Cu/100 kg body weight per day. The estimated dietary copper requirement for maintenance of mature ponies was 3.5 ppm.

KEY WORDS: • copper metabolism • ponies • copper requirement

¹ Present address: Apt. 604, 2277 West Second Ave., Vancouver, BC, Canada V6K 1H8. Dr. Cymbaluk held a Fellowship of the Medical Research Council of Canada.

² To whom reprint requests should be sent.

Manuscript received 20 June 1980.