THE EFFECT OF LEVELS OF SODIUM SALTS IN THE FEED AND DRINKING WATER ON THE OCCURRENCE OF ASCITES AND EDEMA IN TURKEY POULTS

Abstract

An experiment was conducted to study the effects of levels of sodium salts in the feed and drinking water on the occurrence of ascites and edema in turkey poults. Poults were fed rations containing four levels of added sodium chloride: 0, 0.5, 1.0 and 2 per cent in combination with six levels of a 3:2:1 mixture of Na2SO4; NaCl and NaHCO3 added to the drinking water; 0, 750, 1500, 3000, 4500 and 6000 parts per million.Rate of mortality and incidence of ascites and edema were influenced by the amount of salt added to the feed as well as by the concentration of salts in the drinking water. With higher levels of salt in the feed lower levels of salts in the water were toxic, while with low levels of salt in the feed poults were able to tolerate higher levels of salts in the drinking water.Mortality and incidence of ascites and edema increased sharply at 3 days of age, reached a peak at 6 days of age and declined and stopped after 12 days on treatment.