Zinc and Potassium Effects on Bone Formation, Feathering and Growth of Poults

Abstract

ABSTRACT IN STUDIES with poults, utilizing a washed Drackett protein-sucrose basal diet calculated to be adequate in known nutrients, a mixture of unidentified growth factor supplements was found to markedly improve growth and to be protective against a non-rachitic hock disorder of undetermined etiology (Supplee et al., 1956; Supplee, 1957). The ash of this mixture as well as the ash of corn distillers’ dried solubles was found to promote approximately one-half as great a growth response as the supplement mixture but failed to improve the hock condition. Tests of higher levels of various nutrients, including minerals, had not improved either growth or hock condition. O’Dell and Savage (1957) obtained an increase in growth with chicks upon adding 0.5% KCl and 0.01% ZnCO3 to a Drackett protein-cerelose diet containing 0.116% added potassium and 6.6 ppm. added zinc. The effects of KCl and ZnCO3 added singly were less clear. As the potassium content . . .