Some effects on layers of sodium sulfate and magnesium sulfate in their drinking water

Potential for increasing contamination of water supplies with such materials as dissolved inorganic solids suggests more precise water quanlity standards for poultry. Commercial strain S.C.W.L. hens were supplied water containing sodium sulfate (Na2SO4) or magnesium sulfate (MgSO4) (250, 1,000, 4,000, or 16,000 p.p.m.) on a total sulfate basis in Exp. 1 and on a total salt basis in Exp. 2. All data are expressed as percentages deviated from pre-treatment performance. Four thousand p.p.m. of total sulfate as Na2SO4 or MgSO4 significantly depressed feed consumption and hen-day production. Magnesium sulfate (4,000 p.p.m.) had a more depressing effect than Na2SO4 (4,000 p.p.m.) on hen-day production (-80.4 vs. -24.4%). At that level, Na2SO4 significantly increased water consumption and fecal moisture content, while MgSO4 significantly decreased water consumption. All hens on 1l,000 p.p.m. of either salt died during the experiment. No effect on egg quality was observed before the hens died. On a total salt basis (Exp. 2) 16,000 p.p.m. of either Na2SO4 or MgSO4 significantly depressed hen-day production, body weight, and feed comsumption, but increased water consumption. Hens receiving 16,000 p.p.m. Na2SO4 increased water consumption more than those receiving 16,000 p.p.m. MgSO4(146.7 and 24.6%). No significant differences between treatments were observed for mortality (Exp. 2). Mortality data suggest that lethal levels of Na2SO4 and MgSO4 are between 16,000 and 20,032 or 23,680 p.p.m. total salt, respectively.