Evaluation of Fertilizer Phosphates in Turkey Diets

Five experiments were conducted with Large White turkeys to determine the feasibility of using fertilizer phosphates as a source of supplemental phosphorus for starting, growing and finishing turkeys in practical, corn-soybean meal diets. The objectives of this study were: (1) to determine and compare the relative biological value of two fertilizer phosphates, concentrated triple superphosphate (CSP), and diammonium phosphate (DAP), and phosphated egg shell with a reference standard which was mono-sodium phosphate, NaH2PO4*H2O (A. R. or technical grade), (2) to determine the possible fluorine toxicity of CSP and DAP in diets for starting and growing-finishing turkeys, (3) to determine the effect of higher levels of dietary phosphorus on body weight gain, bone breaking strength, percent bone ash and survival, (4) to determine the toxicity of calcium fluorphosphate from CSP and DAP as compared to sodium fluoride, (5) to determine the response of turkeys fed CSP, DAP and partially defluorinated phosphate from day-old to 20 weeks of age, and (6) to determine the response of turkeys to “minimal” and “optimal” levels of “available” phosphorus from day-old to 20 weeks of age. Advisor: Thomas W. Sulliva