ADMINISTRATION OF PROPIONATE TO DAY-OLD TURKEYS

The effects of salts of propionic acid on newly hatched turkeys were e xamined. In Experiment 1, poults were injected with .25 mL of 1 M solu tions of either sodium propionate or calcium propionate. After a 24-h holding period, the poults were killed and assayed for blood glucose, liver weight, and fiver glycogen. Sodium propionate increased blood gl ucose concentration but did not alter liver weight or liver glycogen c ompared with controls. Calcium propionate had no effect on blood gluco se but increased liver weight and liver glycogen compared with control s. There was no mortality in saline-injected controls or sodium propio nate poults; 4 of 10 poults injected with calcium propionate died. In Experiment 2, poults were administered 0 or 4% sodium propionate in th e feed or 0 or 2% sodium propionate in the drinking water in a 2 x 2 f actorial arrangement. Propionate depressed feed intake and body weight by both routes of administration. Propionate in the feed, but not dri nking water, depressed liver weight and liver glycogen. Plasma uric ac id was increased by propionate in either the feed or the water but was not above control amounts when propionate was given in both the feed and water at the same time. Plasma propionic acid was increased by pro pionate in the water but not by propionate in the feed. We conclude th at the use of propionate in injectibles, drinking water, or feed of ne wly hatched turkeys is contraindicated.