Interrelationships between Methionine, Choline, Sodium Chloride and Reserpine in Growing Turkeys

Abstract

ALTHOUGH aortic rupture is still a major problem in commercial turkey flocks only a limited number of investigations have been made dealing with the possible influence of normal dietary components on the development of this condition. Barnett and Morgan (1959) presented evidence which indicated that high levels of dietary fat increased the incidence of beta-aminopropionitrile-induced internal hemorrhage in chicks. Waibel and Pomeroy (1959) failed to confirm these findings with turkeys but found that fish meal hastened the occurrence of beta-aminopropionitrile-induced mortality. Previous work in these laboratories demonstrated that neither calcium nor chlortetracycline influenced the incidence of aortic rupture (Slinger et al., 1961, 1962).Mortality in turkeys from aortic rupture has been shown to be reduced by reserpine when used either therapeutically or on a prophylactic basis (Carlson, 1959; Waibel, 1960; Morrison, 1960; Slinger et al., 1961; and others). That this drug is effective in the control and prevention suggests that …