Abstract: A total of 72 sows (Landrace×Yorkshine) with similar parity were selected and randomly assigned to 3 treatments. Three experimental diets including control, 30% Bioplex Cu diet and 100% Bioplex Cu diet were used to study the effects of feeding organic copper proteinate, partial or complete replacement of dietary inorganic CuSO4 to gestating sows from four weeks pre-partum and throughout lactation on sow productivity. The results showed that: (1) Supplementation of Bioplex Cu to sow diet could reduce sow body weight loss (P>0.05). The weaning weight of piglets from sow fed with 30% Bioplex Cu diet significantly increased (P<0.05) compared to the control and 100% Bioplex Cu groups. (2) Dietary Bioplex Cu was helpful to improve digestibility (P>0.05) of Cu and other minerals such as Zn, Fe and Mg and significantly improve dry matter digestibility (P<0.01). (3) The serum mineral contents of piglets from sows fed with 100% Bioplex Cu diet significantly increased on 14th and 21st day which confirmed that the bioavailability of Cu and other minerals including Zn, Fe and Mn were greatly improved. It was concluded that feeding organic Cu proteinate (Bioplex Cu) to sows could increase bioavailability of dietary copper and other minerals of their piglets, and maintain the serum mineral contents at a high level to sustain optimal growth and healthy status in their later growing stage.

Key words: Bioplex Cu, sow, productivity, growth performance