Fluoride tolerance of the young chick and turkey poult.

Duplicate groups of Strain-Cross White Leghorn chicks, White Rock Cross broiler chicks, and Large White Turkey poults were fed from 0 to 800 ppm fluoride as NaF for 1 day to 6 weeks. Based on growth rate, the dietary fluoride tolerances were at least 400 ppm for Leghorn chicks, 300 ppm for broiler chicks, and 200 ppm for turkey poults. Fluoride ingestion did not affect bone morphology or breaking strength. Increases in fluoride content of bone ash, plasma, and other soft tissues were related to dietary fluoride level but not to type of bird. Bone ash fluoride content was relatively constant at a given fluoride intake level over exposure periods of from 2 to 6 weeks.