Handling of water and dietary monovalent ions by the young turkey

Sodium and water turnover rates were measured in young turkeys fed diets with three concentrations of NaCl and kept at 12, 18 or 30 degrees C. Sodium absorption averaged approximately 60% and was unaffected by temperature. Water and sodium pools were affected by temperature and sodium intake. Water turnover was linear to sodium turnover at the lower two temperatures. No significant relationship was apparent in birds kept at 30 degrees C. The reciprocal of the slope of the function of water turnover on sodium turnover was 125-170 mM, suggesting an increase in isotonic urine excretion with sodium intake and a corresponding increase in water intake. Dietary sodium and potassium stimulated water turnover similarly. Dietary chloride concentration did not affect water turnover. In the turkey plasma pH and pCO2 were unaffected by a wide range of the anion-cation balance. It is concluded that excess sodium or potassium intakes is handled effectively in the turkey by increased water intake and excretion.