A Salt Mixture for Use with Basal Diets Either Low or High in Phosphorus

Abstract

The composition of a complete salt mixture (salt mixture 12) satisfactory for use with purified basal diets either low or high in phosphorus is given. This mixture has been compared with salt mixture 351 of Hubbell, Mendel and Wakeman at levels of 2, 3 and 4 gm. per 100 gm. of basal diet. With a basal diet low in phosphorus, the new salt mixture was definitely superior to salt mixture 351 for both calcification and growth at all levels fed. With a basal diet containing liberal amounts of phosphorus, 2 gm. of salt mixture 351 were slightly better than an equal amount of salt mixture 12, but at the 3- and 4-gm. levels there was no detectable difference. When fed at either 3 or 4 gm. and in the presence of liberal amounts of vitamin D the salt mixture described gives satisfactory results with either a phosphorus-high or a phosphorus-low basal diet. In the latter case, however, 3 gm. per 100 gm. of basal diet appears to be a border-line amount and under these conditions the feeding of 4 gm. of the mixture is recommended. At this level the salt mixture described gives very satisfactory results regardless of the amount of phosphorus in the basal diet.