Interrelationship of Dietary Vitamin D3 with Potassium, Sodium and Magnesium in Young Turkeys ,

Abstract

Six experiments were conducted with Large White and Bronze turkeys to four weeks of age. The interrelationship of dietary vitamin D3 with either potassium, sodium or magnesium was studied in two experiments each. One group of 8–9 male and one group of 8–9 female poults were randomly assigned to each treatment within an experiment. The design of all experiments involved a factorial arrangement of two variables: vitamin D3 and a mineral element. For example, all possible combinations of four dietary potassium levels, 0.24, 0.34, 0.44, 0.54%; and four vitamin D3 levels 400, 800, 1600 and 3200 I.C. units/kg. were fed in the second potassium experiment. Significant (P < 0.05) weight gain differences occurred among both K levels and D3 levels in this particular experiment. Average four-week body weights were 336, 393, 382 and 430 g., respectively, for potassium levels and 330, 391, 404 and 426 g., respectively, for vitamin D3 levels. There was a significant interaction between dietary K and D3 levels relative to four-week body weight gains. Vitamin D3 tended to increase retention of both potassium and sodium in the body. A significant interaction occurred between dietary magnesium and vitamin D3 relative to body weight gain. Vitamin D3 increased magnesium content in tibiae ash and decreased magnesium content in serum.