Sulfur

Sources

For ruminants depends on the co availability of other factors needed for microbial protein synthesis

Sulfur is found in
–meteorites and native in proximity
–to hot springs and volcanoes.
–It is found in many minerals, including galena, iron pyrite, ......
–Sulfur also occurs in petroleum crude oil and natural gas.

Absorption

Absorption of organic sulfate from the GI tract is inefficient. Active transport of SO42- takes place from the upper small intestine

Non ruminant requirement

In non ruminants, sulfur, at least for the most part, should be in the form of sulfur-containing protein that as amino acid there are methionine, cystine and cysteine (usually 0.6 – 0.8% of the protein)

Deficiency

Can not synthesis of other organic forms of S in the absence of inorganic S.

Toxicity

The toxicity of S is determined, to a large extent, by the enzyme systems of the exposed animal, and by whether the animal has capacity to form H2S from the inorganic sulphate sources presented (NRC, 1980).