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Serum Inorganic Sulfate Sulfur as a Measure of the Sulfur Intake of Sheep¹

Five Figures

Department of Animal Industry, University of California, Davis

Serum inorganic sulfate sulfur in sheep is shown to vary with the sulfur intake of the animal. Two trials, using pelletted, low-sulfur alfalfa with added methionine, showed that the serum sulfate ranged from 2.0 to 4.0 mg % with a sulfur intake of 1.7 gm or more per sheep per day. When the same amount of the same feeds without the added methionine was fed, the serum sulfate dropped below 1.0 mg % on a sulfur intake of 1.0 to 1.5 gm per day. When fed on a low-sulfur purified ration (S = 0.02%), sheep were found to have very low serum sulfate values. After 14 days on the purified ration all sheep showed values of less than 0.2 mg %. The administration of 3-gm capsules of elemental sulfur twice daily to each sheep fed the purified ration resulted in a rapid increase in serum sulfate. Addition of elemental sulfur to the purified ration resulted in a slower increase in serum sulfate.

The blood test appears useful in detecting a low-sulfur intake in sheep.

² Department of Animal Husbandry.

³ Department of Soils.

⁴ With technical assistance by T. S. Inouye.

Manuscript received 24 May 1954.