The effect of dietary protein levels on mineral toxicity in chicks.

Studies have been conducted to determine the influence of dietary protein levels of 10, 20, and 30% fed as soybean meal on the toxicity of selenium, cadmium, vanadium, cobalt, and nickel to chicks. The toxicity was evaluated in terms of growth retardation and a decrease in resistance to S. gallinarum infection as measured by mortality. The toxicity of selenium or cadmium was unaffected by the protein level of the diet while the toxicity of vanadium, cobalt and nickel was decreased by increased dietary protein as measured by the interactions on growth. The interactions apparent on growth were not as apparent on resistance to infection indicating that the latter parameter is much less sensitive to these dietary manipulations than is growth.