Studies on the Potassium Requirement of Turkeys to 4 Weeks of Age

Abstract

PUBLISHED data relative to the potassium requirement of starting turkeys are limited and contradictory. Kratzer et al. (1958) failed to obtain a growth improvement when 0.3 percent KCl was added to a semi-purified soy protein diet which probably contained no more than 0.4 percent (calculated) potassium. On the other hand, the data of Supplee and Combs (1959) indicated that a minimum of 0.6 percent potassium was required in semipurified diets for rapid early growth. In their study the desired potassium levels were obtained by varying the amount of K2HPO4 in the diet. Therefore, the growth response may have been due to additional phosphorus as well as additional potassium. Further studies by Supplee and Combs (1960) indicated that the poult’s requirement for potasssium was influenced by an antibiotic supplement. In the presence of 50 or 75 parts per million (p.p.m.) of oleandomycin phosphate, 0.45 percent potassium was required for maximum growth;…