Toxicity of excess dicalcium phosphate in the diet of turkey poults

High mortality in 1-week-old commercial turkey poults was attributed to the accidental substitution of dicalcium phosphate in the diet for corn. At necropsy of the affected birds, lesions were observed in the upper gastrointestinal tract, suggesting acute ingestion of a caustic substance. Mortality and gross and microscopic lesions were reproduced experimentally in turkey poults fed diets similar to the diet fed in the field case. The cause of these lesions was attributed to increased pH due to the phosphoric acid content of the diet.