Journal of Animal Science, Vol 71, Issue 6 1579-1587, Copyright © 1993 by American Society of Animal Science

JOURNAL ARTICLE

Sulfate supplementation of growing goats: effects on performance, acid-base balance, and nutrient digestibilities

K. Qi, C. D. Lu and F. N. Owens
E. (Kika) de la Garza Institute for Goat Research, Langston University, OK 73050.

Castrated male goat kids (20 Alpine, 12 Angora) were individually fed isonitrogenous and isoenergetic diets containing 2.28% N and S (added as CaSO4) at either .11 (basal), .20, .28, or .38% of dietary DM. Sulfate supplementation during the 8-wk growth trial quadratically increased ADG (P < .05) and tended to increase quadratically the DMI (P < .07) of goats, with a peak value for the .20% S diet. Even when analyzed using DMI as a covariate, ADG was quadratically increased (P < .05) by added S. Sulfate supplementation linearly increased (P < .001) S intake, fecal S output, and S retention. Sulfate supplementation tended to increase quadratically (P < .06) the blood plasma concentration of L-lactate. However, sulfate supplementation did not significantly affect (P > .10) plasma sulfate, plasma cystine, ruminal ammonia N concentrations, or purine N content of isolated ruminal bacteria. Sulfate supplementation quadratically increased (P < .05) fractional N retention. Urinary output of uric acid increased quadratically (P < .01) with S supplementation, presumably reflecting ruminal bacterial protein synthesis. Calculated by regression, the optimal dietary S content for maximum ADG was .22% S (N:S = 10.4:1), for maximum DMI it was .24% S (N:S = 9.5: 1), for maximum N retention it was .23% (N:S = 9.9: 1), and for maximum absorbed N retained it was .22% (N:S = 10.4:1). These results support the current estimate of the S requirement of goats for growth (N:S = 10:1).