Sulfur sources in protein supplements for ruminants

Cássio José Da Silva,Tadeu Silva De Oliveira,Fernando De Paula Leonel,Leonardo Marmo Moreira,Marcone Geraldo Costa,Claudilene Lima De Abreu,José Carlos Pereira

doi:10.1590/s1516-35982014001000005

Abstract

The present study evaluates the efficiency of different sulfur sources for ruminant nutrition. The fiber digestibility and the amino acid profile were analyzed in the duodenal digesta of crossbred steers fed Brachiaria dictyoneura hay. The sources utilized were elemental sulfur (ES70S), elemental sulfur (ES98S); calcium sulfate in hydrated (HCS), CaSO4.2H2O, and anhydrous (ACS), CaSO4, forms; and ammonium sulfate (AS), (NH4)2SO4, keeping a nitrogen:sulfur ratio of 11:1. The iso-protein supplements had 50% of protein in the total dry matter (DM). Five Holstein × Zebu steers, which were fistulated in the rumen and abomasum, were distributed in a 5 × 5 Latin square. The different sulfur sources in the supplement did not affect any of the evaluated nutritional factors, such as intake of hay dry matter and protein supplement, crude protein (CP), neutral detergent fiber corrected for ash and protein (NDFap), organic matter (OM), non-fibrous carbohydrate (NFC), ether extract (EE), total digestible nutrients (TDN), NDFap and CP digestibility coefficients, ruminal pH, and ruminal ammonia concentration. The concentrations of amino acids available in the abomasal digesta did not differ significantly in the tested diets. The sulfur sources evaluated in the present study are suitable as supplement for cattle, and their employment may be important to avoid environmental contaminations.

Highlights

The supply of sulfur can be achieved from various sources, such as synthetic amino acids, sodium sulfate, ammonium sulfate, calcium sulfate and elemental sulfur
The present study evaluates the efficiency of different sulfur sources for ruminant nutrition
The different sulfur sources in the supplement did not affect any of the evaluated nutritional factors, such as intake of hay dry matter and protein supplement, crude protein (CP), neutral detergent fiber corrected for ash and protein (NDFap), organic matter (OM), non-fibrous carbohydrate (NFC), ether extract (EE), total digestible nutrients (TDN), NDFap and CP digestibility coefficients, ruminal pH, and ruminal ammonia concentration

Summary

Introduction

The supply of sulfur can be achieved from various sources, such as synthetic amino acids, sodium sulfate, ammonium sulfate, calcium sulfate and elemental sulfur. The nitrogen:sulfur ratio in the microbial proteins is 14.5:1, and a sulfur deficiency in the diet causes changes in the microbial fermentation In this context, it is interesting to note that the utilization of non-protein nitrogen (NPN) is decreased by low levels of sulfur in the rumen fluid, implying that the microbial growth is attenuated. It is interesting to note that the utilization of non-protein nitrogen (NPN) is decreased by low levels of sulfur in the rumen fluid, implying that the microbial growth is attenuated Such a deficiency reduces the utilization of lactate by the rumen bacteria, resulting in its accumulation. There is an appreciable reduction in the digestion of cellulose, possibly due to the reduction of the microbial growth For this reason, sulfur improves the microbial digestion of cellulose, contributing to the synthesis of amino acids, especially methionine and cysteine

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