Growth Rate and Bone Hydroxyproline Concentration in Turkeys Fed with a Silage-Composed Diet Modified with Different...

Our goal was to determine the responses of body weight (BW) and bone hydroxyproline (Hyp) concentration in turkeys fed a corn silage (CS) diet with different values of dietary cation-anion differences (DCADs). The turkeys (n = 90) were divided into five groups and fed as follows: group A (control)-standard diet (SD) (60%) plus CS (40%); group B-SD (60%), CS (40%) plus 240 g of CaCl₂ per 100 kg of diet; group C-SD (60%), CS (40%) plus 480 g of CaCl₂ per 100 kg of diet; group D-SD (60%), CS (40%) plus 240 g of NaHCO₃ per 100 kg of diet; group E-SD (60%), CS (40%) plus 480 g NaHCO₃ per 100 kg of diet. The addition of a lesser amount of CaCl₂ lowered the DCAD, which ranged between 52.5 ± 4.19 and 91.14 ± 3.14 mEq/kg DM. An increased content of CaCl₂ led to high negative values of DCAD. NaHCO₃ supplemented in both doses resulted in a significant elevation of DCAD. Compared to each experimental group, feeding birds with a diet supplemented only with CS resulted in a lower BW. Addition of CaCl₂ or NaHCO₃ to the diet improved BW, but only CaCl₂ addition enhanced the bone Hyp amount. In conclusion, we suggest that an anionic diet with low DCAD can prevent bone abnormalities in large turkeys, especially in the final course of production.