AVAILABLE SODIUM AND POTASSIUM IN CANOLA AND SOYBEAN MEAL

Two experiments were conducted to study the available sodium and potassium in canola- and soybean-meal-based diets containing no supplemental salt. A response in weight gain and feed: gain ratio was noted when potassium was added to soybean meal basal diets, but not when added to a 20% canola meal diet. This response depended upon the level of sodium supplementation. Supplementation of a soybean meal diet with up to 0.08% sodium resulted in improved performance of broiler chicks; however, only 0.06% sodium supplementation was required with a 20% canola meal diet to obtain a similar response. Calculations suggest that the availability of sodium in soybean meal is less than that found in Canola meal. Key words: canola meal, sodium and potassium