- Email: [email protected]
Effect of Feeding Various Levels of Sodium Fluoride to Growing Turkeys
Effect of Feeding Various Levels of Sodium Fluoride to Growing Turkeys J. 0. ANDERSON, J. S. HURST, D. C. STRONG, H. NIELSEN, D. A. GREENWOOD, W. ROBINSON, J. L. SHUPE, W. BINNS, R. A. BAGLEY AND C. I. DRAPER Departments of Poultry Husbandry, Biochemistry, and Veterinary Science, Utah State Agricultural College, Logan, Utah (Received for publication February 23, 1955)
R
ESULTS of numerous experiments in - which fluorine as fluoride was added to the rations fed growing chickens and laying hens have been reported. Most of the experiments involve comparing fluoride bearing rock phosphates with other phosphorus supplements (Wheeler, 1903; Hartwell and Kirkpatrick, 1911; Lewis; 1913; Kennard and White, 1922; Buckner et al., 1923; Buckner et al., 1929; Halpin and Lamb, 1932; McConnell et al., 1944; Gerry el al., 1947; and Gerry et al., 1949). Generally these reports indicate that limited amounts of fluoride bearing rock phosphate can be used in chicken rations without affecting their performance, but their use as the only phosphorus supplement was not recommended. Kick et al. (1933) found that chicks could tolerate more fluoride as calcium fluoride than as sodium fluoride or the fluoride of rock phosphate. The fluoride in rock phosphate and that of sodium fluoride exerted similar effects on growth and feed consumption. Whenever the rations of chicks contained more than 0.036 percent fluoride (360 p.p.m.) as sodium fluoride or as found in rock phosphate, growth and feed consumption were decreased. Hauck et al. (1933) found no unfavorable effect on the appearance or weight gain of chicks fed up to 0.15 percent sodium fluoride (679 p.p.m. of F.). The 0.3 percent level of sodium fluoride depressed appetite and the weight of young chicks but had little effect on chicks two and three months old. Body weight and egg
production were decreased by the addition of 0.96 percent sodium fluoride to the ration of laying hens. Phillips et al. (1935) reported that the ingestion of 70 mg. of fluoride daily per kilogram of body weight is required to inhibit growth of the chick after 1 week of age. In some areas the presence of fluorides in the atmosphere has increased the amount of fluoride in some of the ingredients used in poultry rations. Since no reports were found on the effect of fluorides on growing turkeys an experiment was conducted in which graded levels of sodium fluoride were fed turkeys to determine how much fluoride can be present in turkey growing rations without affecting their performance. The following is a report of this experiment. PROCEDURE
Eighty-eight twelve-week old Broad Breasted Bronze turkeys and an equal number of ten-week old turkeys were used in the experiment. Both sexes were used, but the sex of each bird was not recorded until it was removed from the experiment. Each of the six rations was fed to duplicate pens of twelve-week old birds (replicates 1 and 2) and duplicate pens of ten-week old birds (replicates 3 and 4). Each pen contained 7 birds when the experiment started. Distribution of the birds to the pens was done by stratifying the birds of each age according to weight and allotting them at random within strata to 12 pens. The remaining
1147
1148
J. 0. ANDERSON ET AL.
four birds of each age were killed at the beginning of the experiment for determination of fluoride in the tissues. Fluoride in feed and tissues was determined by the method of Willard and Winter (1933) with the following modifications: Alkali fusion replaced the double distillation as reported by Remmert et al. (1953). All glass apparatus was used in distillation. Chrome-azurol S^replaced the alizarin red S indicator in the titrations as suggested by Milton (1949). Potassium fluorosilicate (K2SiF6), prepared and tested by P. A. Clifford of the United States Food and Drug Administration, was used as the standard. Fluoride is reported on the dry basis, except for the bones, which is on the dry, fatfree basis. The composition of the basal ration is given in Table 1. It contained 43 p.p.m. of fluoride. Other rations containing 100, 200, 400, 800, and 1,600 p.p.m. of fluoride were made by the addition of sodium fluoride to the basal ration. The fluoride content of each ration was checked by chemical analysis. Feed and water were given ad libitum throughout the experiment. The experiment lasted 16 weeks. All birds were weighed and feed consumption determined at four-week intervals. After eight weeks one bird from each pen in replicates 2 and 3 was killed to observe the condition of the internal organs and to provide tissues for fluoride determination. All remaining birds were killed at the termination of the experiment and all abnormal conditions noted. A male bird from each pen of replicates 1 and 4 and a female bird from each pen of replicates 2 and 3 were saved for determination of fluoride in the tissues. Fluoride was determined in the femur, sternum, liver, kidney, and in thigh and breast flesh.
TABLE 1.—Composition of the basal ration Ingredient Ground wheat Ground corn Ground barley Milium Fish meal, 62 percent protein Meat and bone meal, 50 percent protein Soybean oil meal, 44 percent protein Alfalfa meal, suncured Dried whey Limestone flour Bone meal Salt Vitamin A and D supplement (2,0001.U. vit. A and 3001.C.U. vit. Dspergm.) B-vitamin supplement* Procaine penicillin supplement (4 gms. procaine penicillin per pound) Choline chloride, 25% Manganese sulfate
Percent in ration 25 17.S IS 5 4 6 IS 5 3 1.75 1.5 0.5 0.5 0.1 0.1 0.1 4 oz./ton
* The B-vitamin supplement supplied 2 grams of riboflavin, 10 grams of niacin, 4 grams of calcium pantothenate, and 6 milligrams of vitamin B12 per ton of feed. Analysis of ration: Protein 21.2%, ether extract 2.9%, moisture 6.4%, crude fiber 5.2%, phosphorus 1.00%, calcium 2.29%, and fluoride 43 p.p.m.
All birds which died during the experiment were autopsied to note abnormal conditions and determine the cause of death. Since the sex ratio and mortality in each pen varied, the actual feed consumption per kilogram of gain was adjusted to take into consideration this variation. In making this adjustment it was assumed that 16 percent more feed is required to produce a kilogram of female turkey than a kilogram of male turkey, and that in a pen of equal sex distribution males make up 62.5 percent of the total weight of the birds in the pen. These factors were obtained in an experiment conducted the previous year with essentially the same ration and the same strain of birds used in this fluoride experiment. It was also assumed that birds which died or were removed required the
FLUORIDE EFFECT ON TURKEYS
1149
TABLE 2.—Summary of feed consumption, fluoride intake, weight gains, feed required per kilogram of gain, and mortality F added as N a F , p.p.m. Total F , p.p.m.
0 43
Average feed consumption, kg./bird
57 100
157 200
357 400
757 803
1,557 1,600
35.0
35.6
35.2
35.6
33.6
29.2
Average fluoride consumption, m g . / d a y X k g . body wt.
0.5
1.1
2.2
4.9
9.4
18.5
Average 16-week gain, kg. Males Females
8.14 (15)J 4.86(8)
8.09(9) 5.05(12)
7.45* (13) 4.82(11)
7.41*(12) 5.05(10)
6.35t(15) 4.55(9)
Feed/gain
5.41
5.43
5.72
5.59
6.13*
7.46f
Mortality, no. of birds
3
1
4
2
3
5
4.68f(10) 3.14t(13)
* and t Statistical significance of difference in gain or feed consumed per kilogram of gain between this treatment and control treatment indicated by * if P<0.05 and t if P<0.01. % Figure in parentheses indicates the number of birds remaining at the end of the experiment.
same amount of feed per kilogram of gain as male birds. Thus, the feed per kilogram of male produced was calculated for each pen by dividing the total pen feed consumption by the sum of gains made by the males, birds which died or were removed, and 1.16 times gains made by females. This value was then multiplied by 1.06* to obtain the feed required per kilogram of gain in a pen of equal numbers of males and females. The mean of these values for each treatment is given in Table 2. The pen mean weight gains of male and female turkeys, and the adjusted feed per kilogram of gain have been analyzed by the analysis of variance. The significance of the linear, quadratic, and cubic components of treatment variance was determined. F tests were also made to determine which treatments significantly decreased growth rate or increased feed per kilogram of gain when compared to the control treatment (43 p.p.m.). RESULTS Fluoride and feed consumption. Table 2 gives a summary of the feed consumption per bird, the daily fluoride intake per kilogram of body weight, the average weight gain by sexes, the feed consumption per * Calculated as follows: 5X1+3X1.16/8=1.06.
kilogram of gain, and mortality. Feed consumption per bird was calculated from gain and feed efficiency figures. The analysis of variance of weight gains and feed consumption per kilogram of gain are given in Table 3. The average daily fluoride intake per kilogram of body weight increased in direct proportion to the fluoride level in the ration. The daily fluoride intake per kilogram of body weight was also calculated for each four-week period. This value remained rather constant for each ration except the one containing 1,600 p.p.m. of fluoride. Daily fluoride consumption by birds receiving the high fluoride ration was 35 mg. per kilogram of body weight during the first four-week period and approximately 42 mg. during the last three four-week periods. Feed consumption was not affected by the addition of fluoride up to the 400 p.p.m. level; there was a small decrease in feed consumption at the 800 p.p.m. level and a marked decrease at the 1,600 p.p.m. level. Feed consumption by birds receiving the high fluoride ration was 73 percent of that of birds receiving the 100 p.p.m. ration during the first four-week period, while during the last three periods it averaged 88 percent of that consumed by birds on the 100 p.p.m. level. This indicates that birds fed the 1,600
1150
J. O. ANDERSON ET AL.
TABLE 3.—Analysis of variance of body weight gains and feed consumption per kilogram of gain Weight gains
Feed per kg. of gain
Source of variation D.F. Total
3
Sex
1
Treatments Linear Quadratic Cubic Rem.
5
SexX treatment
M.S.
127.96
47
Replicates Age Rem.
S.S.
4.52f .28
72.70
72.70f
39.78 29.21 8.44 1.60 .53
29.21f 8.44f 1.60* .23
5
4.62
.92*
Age X treatment
5
.37
.07
Age X sex
1
.03
.03
Age X sex X treatment
5
1.02
.20
22
4.36
.20
Error
1 1 1 2
S.S.
M.S.
23.32
—
1 2
10.29 9.50 .79
9.50f .39
1 1 1 2
10.93 7.62 2.41 .71 .19
7.62f 2.41f .71* .10
2.10
.14
23
5.08 4.52 .56
1 2
D.F.
3
5
15
* P<0.05. fP<0.01.
p.p.m. ration were able to adjust somewhat to the high fluoride level after four weeks. Growth rate. The analysis of variance of the weight gained and inspection of the data indicate that there was a decrease in weight gains as the fluoride level in the ration increased; the greatest decreases being produced by the last two increases in fluoride level. It also indicates that the weight gained by male turkeys was affected more than that gained by female turkeys. Weight gained by male turkeys was significantly decreased when the ration contained 200 p.p.m. or more of fluoride. The decrease was more marked with the 800 and 1,600 p.p.m. levels. Weight gained by female turkeys was not significantly affected until the 1,600 p.p.m. level was reached. However, the gains by females fed the ration with 800 p.p.m. were less than that by birds fed rations with lower levels
of fluoride. While this difference was not significant at the accepted 5 percent level, it approached this level, and it is believed that the 800 p.p.m. level decreased weight gained by the female turkeys. Turkeys fed the ration with 1,600 p.p.m. gained less weight during the first four-week period than during the final three periods. Rate of gain by turkeys fed the other rations was fairly uniform. Among birds fed the two highest levels of fluoride, extreme variation was found in final weight and condition. Even among birds receiving the highest fluoride level, individual birds were found which had near normal body weights and were in good condition at the end of the experiment. Other birds within the same pen had gained little and were in poor condition. Feed Efficiency. The best feed efficiency was with the basal ration. Birds fed ra-
FLUORIDE EFFECT ON TURKEYS
tions with from 100 to 400 p.p.m. of fluoride consumed slightly more feed per kilogram of gain than birds fed the basal ration, but this difference was not statistically significant. Significantly more feed, 13 and 38 percent, respectively, was required per kilogram of gain by the birds fed rations with 800 and 1,600 p.p.m. of fluoride. Mortality. There was no relation between ration fluoride level and mortality during the experiment. Autopsies of all birds which died indicated that none of the birds died primarily from fluoride toxicity, although it may have been a contributing factor in some cases. Other changes noted. Both turkeys killed from pens which had received the ration containing 800 p.p.m. of fluoride for 8 weeks showed a slight thickening of the duodenal wall of the intestinal tract. This thickening was not evident among birds from this treatment killed at the termination of the experiment. Turkeys killed at the end of the eighth
1151
week from the pens fed the 1,600 p.p.m. fluoride ration showed a marked thickening of the duodenal wall. The mucous membranes of the duodenum were covered with a large amount of heavy grey mucus. The entire intestinal tract showed a pale cooked color. A similar condition was noted among birds killed at the termination of the experiment. No other gross significant internal changes were noted. Some of the birds fed the highest fluoride ration showed many broken feathers over the body and most of the feathers on the neck were gone on several of these birds at the end of the experiment. Fluoride content of tissues. A summary of the fluoride concentration found in the tissues is found in Table 4. Fluoride concentration in the bones increased as the fluoride concentration in the ration increased and as the length of time the rations were fed increased. Fluoride content of the two bones analyzed was not significantly different. Bones from birds
TABLE 4.—Summary of the fluoride content of the tissues at beginning of the experiment and after 8 and 16 weeks on experiment Type of tissue
Initial Weeks F of treat-ment cone.
Total fluoride in ration, p.p.m. 43
100
200
400
8 16
450 383
740 1,268
1,500 1,975
8 16
390 360
770 1,210
1,660 1,775
p.p.m.* Sternum Femur
-t
800
1,600
p.p.m.* 4,050 5,650
8,000 12,500
12,300 14,700
4,050 5,400
8,550 14,875
12,000 14,900
Breast flesh
1.2
8 16
1.3 2.2
2.2 1.5
2.7 2.3
8.2 2.7
5.6 7.5
30.9 24.6
Thigh flesh
1.5
8 16
1.9 1.9
2.3 1.6
3.9 1.5
2.8 2.0
7.8 6.1
11.8 9.4
Liver
1.9
8 16
2.7 1.6
2.4 1.8
4.7 6.3
5.6 2.5
9.1 3.8
15.6 11.3
Kidney
2.6
8 16
5.6 6.5
10.7 8.2
5.9 9.0
9.3 9.7
13.5 16.2
39.0 36.1
* All values are given on dry basis except those from bones which are on a dry, fat-free basis, t Samples lost.
1152
J. 0 . A N D E R S O N ET AL.
fed the two highest fluoride rations for 16 weeks contained about 38 times as much fluoride as bones from birds fed the control ration. Increasing the fluoride level in the ration from 800 to 1,600 p.p.m. produced only small increases in the fluoride content of the bones in birds fed these rations for 16 weeks. This suggests that the bones are approaching saturation as the fluoride concentration reaches 13,000 p.p.m. (1.3%). Fluoride content of the soft tissues did not increase as the length of the feeding period was increased from 8 to 16 weeks. The kidneys contained more fluoride than the liver, or muscle from the thigh or breast. Fluoride concentration in the soft tissues increased as the fluoride level in the ration increased. These increases were relatively small, however, up to the 400 p.p.m. level. Average fluoride concentration of soft tissues among birds fed the 400 p.p.m. level was only 1.8 times that in birds fed the control ration, while soft tissues from birds fed the 800 and 1,600 p.p.m. rations contained 3 and 7 times, respectively, as much fluoride as birds fed the control ration with 43 p.p.m. of fluoride. Fluoride concentration found in the soft tissues of turkeys of this experiment is slightly less and bone fluoride concentration slightly more than the values reported b y H a m a n et al. (1936) for laying hens fed rations containing fluoride in the range fed in this experiment. DISCUSSION Results of this experiment indicate that growth rate in growing Broad Breasted Bronze turkey males is decreased by lower levels of fluoride than are required to decrease growth rate in chicks or affect the performance of laying hens. Increasing the fluoride level of the ration from 43 to 200 p.p.m. caused a significant decrease in growth rate of the male
birds in this experiment. Reports cited earlier in this paper (Kick et al., 1933; Halpin and L a m b , 1932; Hauck et al., 1933; Gerry et al., 1947; and Phillips et al., 1935) indicated t h a t a t least 0.035% fluoride (350 p.p.m.) could be fed chicks without affecting their growth rate. While growth rate of male turkeys was decreased by levels of fluoride as low as 200 p.p.m. it is apparent t h a t there is a more critical level for growing turkeys between 400 and 800 p.p.m. Between these two levels weight gained b y male turkeys was markedly decreased. I t was also the first increase in fluoride content of the ration which produced a decrease in weight gained by female turkeys, a significant decrease in feed efficiency, a decrease in feed consumption, a more than two-fold increase in fluoride content of the soft tissues over t h a t found in turkeys fed the control ration, and a thickening of the wall of the small intestine. The apparently low tolerance of male turkeys and possibly all turkeys for fluoride becomes more significant when it is considered t h a t the birds used in this experiment were 10 and 12 weeks old when the experiment was started. Halpin and L a m b (1932), Hauck et al. (1933), Gerry et al. (1946), and Gerry et al. (1947) reported that growing chickens over eight weeks of age or laying hens had a greater tolerence for fluoride than the chick. If this is also true of the turkey then detrimental effects on poults might be expected with lower levels of fluoride than affected older turkeys in this experiment. SUMMARY Ten and twelve-week old Broad Breasted Bronze turkeys were fed rations with graded levels of fluoride for 16 weeks. The control ration contained 43 p.p.m. of fluoride, and other rations were made which contained 100, 200, 400, 800, a n d
NEWS AND NOTES
1,600 p.p.m. of fluoride by the addition of sodium fluoride to the control ration. This experiment indicated the following: 1. Performance of the turkeys was not affected by increasing ration fluoride level to 100 p.p.m. 2. Weight gains by male turkeys was decreased by as little as 200 p.p.m. of fluoride in the ration. 3. There is a more critical fluoride level for growing turkeys between 400 and 800 p.p.m. Between these two levels there was (a) a more marked decrease in weight gained by male turkeys, (b) a decrease in weight gained by female turkeys, (c) a decreased feed consumption, (d) a decreased feed efficiency, (e) a more than two-fold increase in fluoride content of soft tissues, and (f) gross changes in the intestinal tract of the turkeys. 4. Fluoride content of the bones increased as the ration fluoride level increased and as the length of time the rations were fed increased. REFERENCES Buckner, G. D., J. H. Martin and W. M. Insko, Jr., 1929. The relative utilization of certain calcium compounds by the growing chick. Poultry Sci. 9: 1-5. Buckner, G. D., J. H. Martin and A. M. Peter, 1923. Calcium metabolism in the laying hen: Kentucky Agr. Exp. Sta. Bui. 250. Gerry, R. W., C. W. Carrick, R. E. Roberts and 5. M. Hauge, 1946. Phosphate supplements of different fluorine content as sources of phosphorus for chickens. Poultry Sci. 25:401. Gerry, R. W., C. W. Carrick, R. E. Roberts and S. M. Hauge, 1947. Phosphate supplements of different fluorine content as sources of phosphorus for chickens. Poultry Sci. 26: 323-334.
1153
Gerry, R. W., C. W. Carrick, R. E. Roberts and S. M. Hauge, 1949. Raw rock phosphate in laying rations. Poultry Sci. 28: 19-23. Halpin, J. G., and A. R. Lamb, 1932. The effect of ground phosphate rock fed at various levels on the growth of chicks and on egg production. Poultry Sci. 11:5-13. Haman, K., P. H. Phillips and J. G. Halpin, 1936. The distribution and storage of fluorine in the tissues of laying hens. Poultry Sci. 15: 154-157. Hartwell, B. L., and W. F. Kirkpatrick, 1911. Protein concentrates for winter chickens. Rhode Island Agr. Exp. Sta. Bull. 125. Hauck, H. M., H. Steenbock, J. T. Lowe and J. G. Halpin, 1933. Effect of fluorine on growth, calcification and parathyroids in the chicken. Poultry Sci. 12:242-249. Kennard, D. C , R. C. Holder and P. S. White, 1922. Mineral mixtures for growth of chicks and egg production. Ohio Agr. Exp. Sta. Mo. Bui. 7: 171-177. Kick, C. H., R. M. Bethke and P. R. Record, 1933. Effect of fluorine in the nutrition of the chick. Poultry Sci. 12:382-387. Lewis, H. R., 1913. The ash and protein factor in poultry feeding. New Jersey Agr. Exp. Sta. Bui. 265. McConnell, E. S., W. M. Insko, Jr. and G. D. Buckner, 1944. Fused rock phosphate for chicks. Kentucky Agr. Exp. Sta. Bui. 455. Milton, R. F., 1949. Titrimetric estimation of fluorine. Analyst, 74: 65. Phillips, P. H., H. English and E. B. Hart, 1935. The augmentation of the toxicity of fluorosis in the chick by feeding desiccated thyroid. J. Nutrition, 10: 399-407. Remmert, L. F., T. D. Parks, A. M. Lawrence and E. H. McBurney, 1953. Determination of fluorine in plant materials. Anal. Chem. 25: 450-453. Willard, H. H., and O. B. Winter, 1933. Volumetric method for determination of fluorine. Ind. Eng. Chem. (Anal. Ed.) 5: 7-10. Wheeler, W. P., 1903. The importance of mineral matter and the value of grit for chicks. New York Agr. Exp. Sta. Bui. 242.
NEWS AND NOTES (Continued from page 1084) U.S.D.A. NOTES Don C. Warren, Coordinator in Charge of the Regional Breeding Project of United States Department of Agriculture at Lafayette, Indiana, has re-
signed effective January 1, 1956. Dr. Warren will join the staff of Kimber Farms, Inc., at Niles, California. David L. Hume has been appointed Assistant to
{Continued on page 1162)
R
ESULTS of numerous experiments in - which fluorine as fluoride was added to the rations fed growing chickens and laying hens have been reported. Most of the experiments involve comparing fluoride bearing rock phosphates with other phosphorus supplements (Wheeler, 1903; Hartwell and Kirkpatrick, 1911; Lewis; 1913; Kennard and White, 1922; Buckner et al., 1923; Buckner et al., 1929; Halpin and Lamb, 1932; McConnell et al., 1944; Gerry el al., 1947; and Gerry et al., 1949). Generally these reports indicate that limited amounts of fluoride bearing rock phosphate can be used in chicken rations without affecting their performance, but their use as the only phosphorus supplement was not recommended. Kick et al. (1933) found that chicks could tolerate more fluoride as calcium fluoride than as sodium fluoride or the fluoride of rock phosphate. The fluoride in rock phosphate and that of sodium fluoride exerted similar effects on growth and feed consumption. Whenever the rations of chicks contained more than 0.036 percent fluoride (360 p.p.m.) as sodium fluoride or as found in rock phosphate, growth and feed consumption were decreased. Hauck et al. (1933) found no unfavorable effect on the appearance or weight gain of chicks fed up to 0.15 percent sodium fluoride (679 p.p.m. of F.). The 0.3 percent level of sodium fluoride depressed appetite and the weight of young chicks but had little effect on chicks two and three months old. Body weight and egg
production were decreased by the addition of 0.96 percent sodium fluoride to the ration of laying hens. Phillips et al. (1935) reported that the ingestion of 70 mg. of fluoride daily per kilogram of body weight is required to inhibit growth of the chick after 1 week of age. In some areas the presence of fluorides in the atmosphere has increased the amount of fluoride in some of the ingredients used in poultry rations. Since no reports were found on the effect of fluorides on growing turkeys an experiment was conducted in which graded levels of sodium fluoride were fed turkeys to determine how much fluoride can be present in turkey growing rations without affecting their performance. The following is a report of this experiment. PROCEDURE
Eighty-eight twelve-week old Broad Breasted Bronze turkeys and an equal number of ten-week old turkeys were used in the experiment. Both sexes were used, but the sex of each bird was not recorded until it was removed from the experiment. Each of the six rations was fed to duplicate pens of twelve-week old birds (replicates 1 and 2) and duplicate pens of ten-week old birds (replicates 3 and 4). Each pen contained 7 birds when the experiment started. Distribution of the birds to the pens was done by stratifying the birds of each age according to weight and allotting them at random within strata to 12 pens. The remaining
1147
1148
J. 0. ANDERSON ET AL.
four birds of each age were killed at the beginning of the experiment for determination of fluoride in the tissues. Fluoride in feed and tissues was determined by the method of Willard and Winter (1933) with the following modifications: Alkali fusion replaced the double distillation as reported by Remmert et al. (1953). All glass apparatus was used in distillation. Chrome-azurol S^replaced the alizarin red S indicator in the titrations as suggested by Milton (1949). Potassium fluorosilicate (K2SiF6), prepared and tested by P. A. Clifford of the United States Food and Drug Administration, was used as the standard. Fluoride is reported on the dry basis, except for the bones, which is on the dry, fatfree basis. The composition of the basal ration is given in Table 1. It contained 43 p.p.m. of fluoride. Other rations containing 100, 200, 400, 800, and 1,600 p.p.m. of fluoride were made by the addition of sodium fluoride to the basal ration. The fluoride content of each ration was checked by chemical analysis. Feed and water were given ad libitum throughout the experiment. The experiment lasted 16 weeks. All birds were weighed and feed consumption determined at four-week intervals. After eight weeks one bird from each pen in replicates 2 and 3 was killed to observe the condition of the internal organs and to provide tissues for fluoride determination. All remaining birds were killed at the termination of the experiment and all abnormal conditions noted. A male bird from each pen of replicates 1 and 4 and a female bird from each pen of replicates 2 and 3 were saved for determination of fluoride in the tissues. Fluoride was determined in the femur, sternum, liver, kidney, and in thigh and breast flesh.
TABLE 1.—Composition of the basal ration Ingredient Ground wheat Ground corn Ground barley Milium Fish meal, 62 percent protein Meat and bone meal, 50 percent protein Soybean oil meal, 44 percent protein Alfalfa meal, suncured Dried whey Limestone flour Bone meal Salt Vitamin A and D supplement (2,0001.U. vit. A and 3001.C.U. vit. Dspergm.) B-vitamin supplement* Procaine penicillin supplement (4 gms. procaine penicillin per pound) Choline chloride, 25% Manganese sulfate
Percent in ration 25 17.S IS 5 4 6 IS 5 3 1.75 1.5 0.5 0.5 0.1 0.1 0.1 4 oz./ton
* The B-vitamin supplement supplied 2 grams of riboflavin, 10 grams of niacin, 4 grams of calcium pantothenate, and 6 milligrams of vitamin B12 per ton of feed. Analysis of ration: Protein 21.2%, ether extract 2.9%, moisture 6.4%, crude fiber 5.2%, phosphorus 1.00%, calcium 2.29%, and fluoride 43 p.p.m.
All birds which died during the experiment were autopsied to note abnormal conditions and determine the cause of death. Since the sex ratio and mortality in each pen varied, the actual feed consumption per kilogram of gain was adjusted to take into consideration this variation. In making this adjustment it was assumed that 16 percent more feed is required to produce a kilogram of female turkey than a kilogram of male turkey, and that in a pen of equal sex distribution males make up 62.5 percent of the total weight of the birds in the pen. These factors were obtained in an experiment conducted the previous year with essentially the same ration and the same strain of birds used in this fluoride experiment. It was also assumed that birds which died or were removed required the
FLUORIDE EFFECT ON TURKEYS
1149
TABLE 2.—Summary of feed consumption, fluoride intake, weight gains, feed required per kilogram of gain, and mortality F added as N a F , p.p.m. Total F , p.p.m.
0 43
Average feed consumption, kg./bird
57 100
157 200
357 400
757 803
1,557 1,600
35.0
35.6
35.2
35.6
33.6
29.2
Average fluoride consumption, m g . / d a y X k g . body wt.
0.5
1.1
2.2
4.9
9.4
18.5
Average 16-week gain, kg. Males Females
8.14 (15)J 4.86(8)
8.09(9) 5.05(12)
7.45* (13) 4.82(11)
7.41*(12) 5.05(10)
6.35t(15) 4.55(9)
Feed/gain
5.41
5.43
5.72
5.59
6.13*
7.46f
Mortality, no. of birds
3
1
4
2
3
5
4.68f(10) 3.14t(13)
* and t Statistical significance of difference in gain or feed consumed per kilogram of gain between this treatment and control treatment indicated by * if P<0.05 and t if P<0.01. % Figure in parentheses indicates the number of birds remaining at the end of the experiment.
same amount of feed per kilogram of gain as male birds. Thus, the feed per kilogram of male produced was calculated for each pen by dividing the total pen feed consumption by the sum of gains made by the males, birds which died or were removed, and 1.16 times gains made by females. This value was then multiplied by 1.06* to obtain the feed required per kilogram of gain in a pen of equal numbers of males and females. The mean of these values for each treatment is given in Table 2. The pen mean weight gains of male and female turkeys, and the adjusted feed per kilogram of gain have been analyzed by the analysis of variance. The significance of the linear, quadratic, and cubic components of treatment variance was determined. F tests were also made to determine which treatments significantly decreased growth rate or increased feed per kilogram of gain when compared to the control treatment (43 p.p.m.). RESULTS Fluoride and feed consumption. Table 2 gives a summary of the feed consumption per bird, the daily fluoride intake per kilogram of body weight, the average weight gain by sexes, the feed consumption per * Calculated as follows: 5X1+3X1.16/8=1.06.
kilogram of gain, and mortality. Feed consumption per bird was calculated from gain and feed efficiency figures. The analysis of variance of weight gains and feed consumption per kilogram of gain are given in Table 3. The average daily fluoride intake per kilogram of body weight increased in direct proportion to the fluoride level in the ration. The daily fluoride intake per kilogram of body weight was also calculated for each four-week period. This value remained rather constant for each ration except the one containing 1,600 p.p.m. of fluoride. Daily fluoride consumption by birds receiving the high fluoride ration was 35 mg. per kilogram of body weight during the first four-week period and approximately 42 mg. during the last three four-week periods. Feed consumption was not affected by the addition of fluoride up to the 400 p.p.m. level; there was a small decrease in feed consumption at the 800 p.p.m. level and a marked decrease at the 1,600 p.p.m. level. Feed consumption by birds receiving the high fluoride ration was 73 percent of that of birds receiving the 100 p.p.m. ration during the first four-week period, while during the last three periods it averaged 88 percent of that consumed by birds on the 100 p.p.m. level. This indicates that birds fed the 1,600
1150
J. O. ANDERSON ET AL.
TABLE 3.—Analysis of variance of body weight gains and feed consumption per kilogram of gain Weight gains
Feed per kg. of gain
Source of variation D.F. Total
3
Sex
1
Treatments Linear Quadratic Cubic Rem.
5
SexX treatment
M.S.
127.96
47
Replicates Age Rem.
S.S.
4.52f .28
72.70
72.70f
39.78 29.21 8.44 1.60 .53
29.21f 8.44f 1.60* .23
5
4.62
.92*
Age X treatment
5
.37
.07
Age X sex
1
.03
.03
Age X sex X treatment
5
1.02
.20
22
4.36
.20
Error
1 1 1 2
S.S.
M.S.
23.32
—
1 2
10.29 9.50 .79
9.50f .39
1 1 1 2
10.93 7.62 2.41 .71 .19
7.62f 2.41f .71* .10
2.10
.14
23
5.08 4.52 .56
1 2
D.F.
3
5
15
* P<0.05. fP<0.01.
p.p.m. ration were able to adjust somewhat to the high fluoride level after four weeks. Growth rate. The analysis of variance of the weight gained and inspection of the data indicate that there was a decrease in weight gains as the fluoride level in the ration increased; the greatest decreases being produced by the last two increases in fluoride level. It also indicates that the weight gained by male turkeys was affected more than that gained by female turkeys. Weight gained by male turkeys was significantly decreased when the ration contained 200 p.p.m. or more of fluoride. The decrease was more marked with the 800 and 1,600 p.p.m. levels. Weight gained by female turkeys was not significantly affected until the 1,600 p.p.m. level was reached. However, the gains by females fed the ration with 800 p.p.m. were less than that by birds fed rations with lower levels
of fluoride. While this difference was not significant at the accepted 5 percent level, it approached this level, and it is believed that the 800 p.p.m. level decreased weight gained by the female turkeys. Turkeys fed the ration with 1,600 p.p.m. gained less weight during the first four-week period than during the final three periods. Rate of gain by turkeys fed the other rations was fairly uniform. Among birds fed the two highest levels of fluoride, extreme variation was found in final weight and condition. Even among birds receiving the highest fluoride level, individual birds were found which had near normal body weights and were in good condition at the end of the experiment. Other birds within the same pen had gained little and were in poor condition. Feed Efficiency. The best feed efficiency was with the basal ration. Birds fed ra-
FLUORIDE EFFECT ON TURKEYS
tions with from 100 to 400 p.p.m. of fluoride consumed slightly more feed per kilogram of gain than birds fed the basal ration, but this difference was not statistically significant. Significantly more feed, 13 and 38 percent, respectively, was required per kilogram of gain by the birds fed rations with 800 and 1,600 p.p.m. of fluoride. Mortality. There was no relation between ration fluoride level and mortality during the experiment. Autopsies of all birds which died indicated that none of the birds died primarily from fluoride toxicity, although it may have been a contributing factor in some cases. Other changes noted. Both turkeys killed from pens which had received the ration containing 800 p.p.m. of fluoride for 8 weeks showed a slight thickening of the duodenal wall of the intestinal tract. This thickening was not evident among birds from this treatment killed at the termination of the experiment. Turkeys killed at the end of the eighth
1151
week from the pens fed the 1,600 p.p.m. fluoride ration showed a marked thickening of the duodenal wall. The mucous membranes of the duodenum were covered with a large amount of heavy grey mucus. The entire intestinal tract showed a pale cooked color. A similar condition was noted among birds killed at the termination of the experiment. No other gross significant internal changes were noted. Some of the birds fed the highest fluoride ration showed many broken feathers over the body and most of the feathers on the neck were gone on several of these birds at the end of the experiment. Fluoride content of tissues. A summary of the fluoride concentration found in the tissues is found in Table 4. Fluoride concentration in the bones increased as the fluoride concentration in the ration increased and as the length of time the rations were fed increased. Fluoride content of the two bones analyzed was not significantly different. Bones from birds
TABLE 4.—Summary of the fluoride content of the tissues at beginning of the experiment and after 8 and 16 weeks on experiment Type of tissue
Initial Weeks F of treat-ment cone.
Total fluoride in ration, p.p.m. 43
100
200
400
8 16
450 383
740 1,268
1,500 1,975
8 16
390 360
770 1,210
1,660 1,775
p.p.m.* Sternum Femur
-t
800
1,600
p.p.m.* 4,050 5,650
8,000 12,500
12,300 14,700
4,050 5,400
8,550 14,875
12,000 14,900
Breast flesh
1.2
8 16
1.3 2.2
2.2 1.5
2.7 2.3
8.2 2.7
5.6 7.5
30.9 24.6
Thigh flesh
1.5
8 16
1.9 1.9
2.3 1.6
3.9 1.5
2.8 2.0
7.8 6.1
11.8 9.4
Liver
1.9
8 16
2.7 1.6
2.4 1.8
4.7 6.3
5.6 2.5
9.1 3.8
15.6 11.3
Kidney
2.6
8 16
5.6 6.5
10.7 8.2
5.9 9.0
9.3 9.7
13.5 16.2
39.0 36.1
* All values are given on dry basis except those from bones which are on a dry, fat-free basis, t Samples lost.
1152
J. 0 . A N D E R S O N ET AL.
fed the two highest fluoride rations for 16 weeks contained about 38 times as much fluoride as bones from birds fed the control ration. Increasing the fluoride level in the ration from 800 to 1,600 p.p.m. produced only small increases in the fluoride content of the bones in birds fed these rations for 16 weeks. This suggests that the bones are approaching saturation as the fluoride concentration reaches 13,000 p.p.m. (1.3%). Fluoride content of the soft tissues did not increase as the length of the feeding period was increased from 8 to 16 weeks. The kidneys contained more fluoride than the liver, or muscle from the thigh or breast. Fluoride concentration in the soft tissues increased as the fluoride level in the ration increased. These increases were relatively small, however, up to the 400 p.p.m. level. Average fluoride concentration of soft tissues among birds fed the 400 p.p.m. level was only 1.8 times that in birds fed the control ration, while soft tissues from birds fed the 800 and 1,600 p.p.m. rations contained 3 and 7 times, respectively, as much fluoride as birds fed the control ration with 43 p.p.m. of fluoride. Fluoride concentration found in the soft tissues of turkeys of this experiment is slightly less and bone fluoride concentration slightly more than the values reported b y H a m a n et al. (1936) for laying hens fed rations containing fluoride in the range fed in this experiment. DISCUSSION Results of this experiment indicate that growth rate in growing Broad Breasted Bronze turkey males is decreased by lower levels of fluoride than are required to decrease growth rate in chicks or affect the performance of laying hens. Increasing the fluoride level of the ration from 43 to 200 p.p.m. caused a significant decrease in growth rate of the male
birds in this experiment. Reports cited earlier in this paper (Kick et al., 1933; Halpin and L a m b , 1932; Hauck et al., 1933; Gerry et al., 1947; and Phillips et al., 1935) indicated t h a t a t least 0.035% fluoride (350 p.p.m.) could be fed chicks without affecting their growth rate. While growth rate of male turkeys was decreased by levels of fluoride as low as 200 p.p.m. it is apparent t h a t there is a more critical level for growing turkeys between 400 and 800 p.p.m. Between these two levels weight gained b y male turkeys was markedly decreased. I t was also the first increase in fluoride content of the ration which produced a decrease in weight gained by female turkeys, a significant decrease in feed efficiency, a decrease in feed consumption, a more than two-fold increase in fluoride content of the soft tissues over t h a t found in turkeys fed the control ration, and a thickening of the wall of the small intestine. The apparently low tolerance of male turkeys and possibly all turkeys for fluoride becomes more significant when it is considered t h a t the birds used in this experiment were 10 and 12 weeks old when the experiment was started. Halpin and L a m b (1932), Hauck et al. (1933), Gerry et al. (1946), and Gerry et al. (1947) reported that growing chickens over eight weeks of age or laying hens had a greater tolerence for fluoride than the chick. If this is also true of the turkey then detrimental effects on poults might be expected with lower levels of fluoride than affected older turkeys in this experiment. SUMMARY Ten and twelve-week old Broad Breasted Bronze turkeys were fed rations with graded levels of fluoride for 16 weeks. The control ration contained 43 p.p.m. of fluoride, and other rations were made which contained 100, 200, 400, 800, a n d
NEWS AND NOTES
1,600 p.p.m. of fluoride by the addition of sodium fluoride to the control ration. This experiment indicated the following: 1. Performance of the turkeys was not affected by increasing ration fluoride level to 100 p.p.m. 2. Weight gains by male turkeys was decreased by as little as 200 p.p.m. of fluoride in the ration. 3. There is a more critical fluoride level for growing turkeys between 400 and 800 p.p.m. Between these two levels there was (a) a more marked decrease in weight gained by male turkeys, (b) a decrease in weight gained by female turkeys, (c) a decreased feed consumption, (d) a decreased feed efficiency, (e) a more than two-fold increase in fluoride content of soft tissues, and (f) gross changes in the intestinal tract of the turkeys. 4. Fluoride content of the bones increased as the ration fluoride level increased and as the length of time the rations were fed increased. REFERENCES Buckner, G. D., J. H. Martin and W. M. Insko, Jr., 1929. The relative utilization of certain calcium compounds by the growing chick. Poultry Sci. 9: 1-5. Buckner, G. D., J. H. Martin and A. M. Peter, 1923. Calcium metabolism in the laying hen: Kentucky Agr. Exp. Sta. Bui. 250. Gerry, R. W., C. W. Carrick, R. E. Roberts and 5. M. Hauge, 1946. Phosphate supplements of different fluorine content as sources of phosphorus for chickens. Poultry Sci. 25:401. Gerry, R. W., C. W. Carrick, R. E. Roberts and S. M. Hauge, 1947. Phosphate supplements of different fluorine content as sources of phosphorus for chickens. Poultry Sci. 26: 323-334.
1153
Gerry, R. W., C. W. Carrick, R. E. Roberts and S. M. Hauge, 1949. Raw rock phosphate in laying rations. Poultry Sci. 28: 19-23. Halpin, J. G., and A. R. Lamb, 1932. The effect of ground phosphate rock fed at various levels on the growth of chicks and on egg production. Poultry Sci. 11:5-13. Haman, K., P. H. Phillips and J. G. Halpin, 1936. The distribution and storage of fluorine in the tissues of laying hens. Poultry Sci. 15: 154-157. Hartwell, B. L., and W. F. Kirkpatrick, 1911. Protein concentrates for winter chickens. Rhode Island Agr. Exp. Sta. Bull. 125. Hauck, H. M., H. Steenbock, J. T. Lowe and J. G. Halpin, 1933. Effect of fluorine on growth, calcification and parathyroids in the chicken. Poultry Sci. 12:242-249. Kennard, D. C , R. C. Holder and P. S. White, 1922. Mineral mixtures for growth of chicks and egg production. Ohio Agr. Exp. Sta. Mo. Bui. 7: 171-177. Kick, C. H., R. M. Bethke and P. R. Record, 1933. Effect of fluorine in the nutrition of the chick. Poultry Sci. 12:382-387. Lewis, H. R., 1913. The ash and protein factor in poultry feeding. New Jersey Agr. Exp. Sta. Bui. 265. McConnell, E. S., W. M. Insko, Jr. and G. D. Buckner, 1944. Fused rock phosphate for chicks. Kentucky Agr. Exp. Sta. Bui. 455. Milton, R. F., 1949. Titrimetric estimation of fluorine. Analyst, 74: 65. Phillips, P. H., H. English and E. B. Hart, 1935. The augmentation of the toxicity of fluorosis in the chick by feeding desiccated thyroid. J. Nutrition, 10: 399-407. Remmert, L. F., T. D. Parks, A. M. Lawrence and E. H. McBurney, 1953. Determination of fluorine in plant materials. Anal. Chem. 25: 450-453. Willard, H. H., and O. B. Winter, 1933. Volumetric method for determination of fluorine. Ind. Eng. Chem. (Anal. Ed.) 5: 7-10. Wheeler, W. P., 1903. The importance of mineral matter and the value of grit for chicks. New York Agr. Exp. Sta. Bui. 242.
NEWS AND NOTES (Continued from page 1084) U.S.D.A. NOTES Don C. Warren, Coordinator in Charge of the Regional Breeding Project of United States Department of Agriculture at Lafayette, Indiana, has re-
signed effective January 1, 1956. Dr. Warren will join the staff of Kimber Farms, Inc., at Niles, California. David L. Hume has been appointed Assistant to
{Continued on page 1162)