J. Anim Sci.
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J. Anim Sci. 1984. 59:1100-1105.
© 1984 American Society of Animal Science
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Effect of Elemental Sulfur Supplementation on Digestibility and Metabolism of Early Vegetative and Fall-Accumulated Regrowth Fescue Hay by Wethers1

Russell B. Muntifering2, Steven I. Smith2 and James A. Boling2

University of Kentucky, Lexington 40546-0215

Abstract

Twenty-one mature wethers (53 kg) were assigned randomly to four treatments in an experiment of 2 x 2 factorial design with unequal subclass numbers: early vegetative Kenhy tall fescue hay (EV), EV plus 3 g/d elemental sulfur (EV + S), fall-accumulated regrowth Kenhy tall fescue hay (FAR) and FAR plus 3 g/d elemental sulfur (FAR + S). Apparent total tract digestibility of acid detergent fiber was greater (P<.05) for EV than FAR treatments (73.6 vs 64.8%). Daily fecal and urinary nitrogen (N) excretions were also greater (P<.05) for EV than FAR treatments (7.7 and 13.2 vs 6.4 and 7.0 g, respectively). Harvest date x supplemental S interactions for digestibility of dry matter (P<.13) and neutral detergent fiber (P<.12) and for percentage of ingestedNretained (P<.17) revealed a beneficial effect of S supplementation on digestive function and N metabolism in wethers fed FAR, but not EV forage. Daily fecal, urinary and retained S were greater (P<.05) for wethers receiving supplemental S (2.1, 2.2 and 2.2 vs 1.1, 1.1 and .8 g, respectively); urinary S excretion was greater (P<.05) for EV than FAR treatments (1.8 vs 1.5 g/d), whereas S balance was greater (P<.05) for FAR than EV treatments (1.7 vs 1.3 g/d). Supplementation increased (P<.05) abomasal and cecal S flow (4.9 vs 1.6 and 2.6 vs 1.4 g/d, respectively), primarily in the paniculate phase of digesta; likewise, S disappearance from the small and large intestine was increased (P<.05) by supplementation (2.3 vs .3 and .6 vs 0 g/d, respectively). As evidenced by the relative maturity of the experimental animals and the N:S ratios of their retention products, the greater portion of supplemental S probably contributed to wool growth and differential fill of the body inorganic S pool. Nevertheless, supplementation of fall regrowth fescue with elemental S improved its utilization.

Footnotes

1 This paper (No. 83-5-213) is published with the approval of the Director of the Kentucky Agr. Exp. Sta.

2 Dept. of Anim. Sci.






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Copyright © 1984 by the American Society of Animal Science.