The sparing action of inorganic sulphate on sulphur amino acids in practical broiler diets: The replacement of some of the supplementary methionine in broiler finisher diets1

Abstract

1. Three trials, using practical broiler finisher diets, were carried out to determine to what extent synthetic methionine can be replaced by sodium sulphate. 2. In all three trials responses in weight gain and food conversion ratio were obtained to increments of sodium sulphate in diets containing sub‐optimal concentrations of sulphur amino acids. 3. The effectiveness of sodium sulphate during the finishing period was not higher than had been previously found in younger chicks, and in most cases ranged from 20% to 50% that of synthetic methionine. This efficiency increased after 2 weeks on these diets, in two of the trials. 4. The addition of either synthetic methionine or sodium sulphate decreased relative food consumption, which was apparently increased by suboptimal levels of dietary sulphur.