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The Sodium and Potassium Requirements of the Chick and Their Interrelationship¹

Three Figures

Departments of Biochemistry and Poultry Husbandry, College of Agriculture, University of Wisconsin, Madison

The minimum requirements for sodium and potassium by chicks fed semipurified diets for the first few weeks of life have been investigated, and both were found to vary with the rate of growth. The requirement for sodium was found to lie between 0.10 and 0.30%, and that for potassium between 0.23 and 0.40%, the higher levels being required for maximum growth. The level of potassium appears to have no effect on the Na requirement, provided it is not a limiting factor.

The requirement for chloride was found to be less than 0.06%, and thus lower than its equivalent of the amount of sodium required.

Sodium and potassium were each found to be toxic if fed greatly in excess of the other, and this toxicity could be overcome by raising the level of the other element. Under certain conditions, a slight sparing action could also be observed between the two elments.

Manuscript received 11 March 1953.