Susceptibility of two commercial single comb White Leghorn strains to calcium-induced urolithiasis: efficacy of dietary supplementation with DL-methionine and ammonium sulphate.
1. Susceptibility to calcium-induced urolithiasis was assessed in pullets of two commercial SCWL strains (A and B) reared together from 5 to 18 weeks of age on diets containing 10 g/kg calcium (normal calcium: NC) or 35 g/kg calcium (high calcium: HC). 2. Kidney damage was not observed in pullets reared on NC diets. For pullets fed on HC diets, strain A developed significantly greater kidney asymmetry, a higher incidence of gross kidney damage and a higher incidence of uroliths than strain B. 3. Supplementing the HC diet with 6 g/kg DL-methionine significantly reduced the incidence of calcium-induced gross kidney damage and urolith formation in both strains. Ammonium sulphate (5.3 g/kg) was significantly more effective than DL-methionine in reducing calcium-induced kidney damage. 4. Neither DL-methionine nor ammonium sulphate caused a measurable metabolic acidosis. Neither supplement consistently affected water consumption or manure moisture.
Lent
A J
AJ
Department of Poultry Science, Pennsylvania State University, University Park 16802.
Wideman
R F
RF
D000645:Ammonium Sulfate / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight; D002136:Calcium, Dietary / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002645:Chickens; D004198:Disease Susceptibility; D005260:Female; D005527:Food, Fortified; D007668:Kidney / Q000473:pathology; D008715:Methionine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D011201:Poultry Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D013045:Species Specificity; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014545:Urinary Calculi / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*
D002136:Calcium, Dietary; D008715:Methionine; D000645:Ammonium Sulfate