Copper-induced microbiota shifts in piglets

Copper sulphate is used as a feed additive in the pig industry since EU-wide ban on the use of antibiotics as growth promoters. Four-week-old piglets (n=60) were separated into two groups and fed on diet with high (therapeutic) or low (nutritional) levels of copper sulphate. Faecal samples were collected immediately prior to and on day 7 and 14 following placing piglets on low or high copper diet.