Utilization of Inorganic Sulfate by Turkey Poults

Two experiments were conducted to determine whether the turkey poult could utilize inorganic sulfate. The basal diet contained 26 percent protein and 2987 kilocalories of productive energy per kilogram. Total sulfur amino acid content was 0.765 percent. Five additional diets were formulated by adding the following to the basal: 0.105 percent methionine, 0.25 percent Na2 SO4, 0.105 percent methionine and 0.25 percent Na2 SO4, 0.21 percent methionine, and 0.21 percent methionine and 0.25 percent Na2 SO4. Each addition of methionine gave a significant growth response. Sodium sulfate gave a significant growth response only in the absence of added methionine, but numerical increases were evident at each addition. The addition of 0.21 percent methionine produced the only significant improvement in feed efficiency.