Copper and Iron Toxicity

Goldberger et al. (1956) reported that excessive copper intake in adult birds caused accumulation of very large amounts of copper in the liver. “Iron rickets,” a condition similar to rickets, is associated with excessive iron feeding in the presence of ample quantities of calcium and vitamin D. Sullivan et al. (1963) reported that added copper in the presence of inadequate iron had a detrimental effect on the blood of turkeys and it was suggested that caution be used in the use of salts to combat fungi and molds. This study was initiated to evaluate the effects of various levels of copper and iron on growth, body weight gains and survival. Three groups of birds were used with six treatments per group and twenty birds per treatment. One replicate was used. In Group 1 (Table 2) 5 p.p.m. copper was added to the basal diet (Table 1) in all…