Effects of supplemental methionine and potassium sulfate on the choline requirement of the turkey poult.

Two experiments were conducted to study the relationship of methionine and potassium sulfate (K2SO4) on the choline requirement of turkey poults from hatch to three weeks of age. A corn-soybean meal basal diet was used which contained no supplemental choline or methionine. Also sulfate-free trace minerals were used. In Experiment 1, a linear increase in body weight was obtained by adding supplemental choline up to 660 mg/kg when the diet did not contain supplemental methionine. No response was obtained from supplemental choline when the diet contained a level higher than required for methionine (.25%). Feed efficiency was not affected by supplemental choline regardless of the level of supplemental methionine. In Experiment 2, a linear response in body weight was obtained by adding supplemental choline up to 1100 mg/kg diet in the presence or absence of supplemental K2SO4. The addition of K2SO4 to the diet did not significantly increase body weight at any level of supplemental choline. However, when all levels of choline were combined, the addition of K2SO4 significantly increased body weight, which indicated that the response from the two supplements were additive.