Supplementary inorganic sulfate and methionine for young turkeys

Two replicated experiments utilizing a total of 864 Large White Turkeys were conducted to determine the effects and possible interactions of supplementary inorganic sulfate and DL-methionine on body weight gain and feed consumption. Experimental diets, in which a corn-soybean meal basal diet was supplemented with inorganic sulfate either in the form of sodium sulfate (0, .0952, and .1904%) or potassium sulfate (0, .1180, and .2360%), and with methionine (0, .05, .10 and .15%) in the place of glucose monohydrate, were fed in a 3 X 2 X 4 experimental design. Each diet was fed to 9 males and 9 females from 1 day to 7 weeks of age. For 0, .05, .10, and .15% added methionine, 7-week body weights were 2020, 2162, 2238, and 2243 g, and feed consumptions were 3346, 3478, 3587, and 3571 g, respectively, producing significant (P less than .001) increases. For 0, .0215, and .0430% added sulfur from sulfates, body weights were 2163, 2167, and 2167 g, and feed consumptions were 3483, 3510, and 3494 g, respectively, but none were significantly different. Interactions were not significant; thus, sulfates did not replace or alter the requirement for added methionine in diets of young turkeys in this study.