Document Type

Other

Publication Date

6-1-2008

Keywords

dairy cattle, distillers grains, corn, sulfur

Extension Number

ExEx 4039

Department

Dairy Science

Description

Sulfur is an essential element needed by animals for many functions. About 0.15% of body weight is sulfur. It is found in the amino acids methionine, cysteine, cystine, homocysteine, and taurine; in chondroitin sulfate of cartilage; and in the B-vitamins thiamin and biotin. Methionine, thiamin, and biotin cannot be synthesized in cattle tissues, so they must be supplied in the diet or synthesized by ruminal microbes. The sulfur content of most feed sources reflects the sulfur amino acid content of the proteins in the feed. See table 1 for example sulfur concentrations for various feed ingredients.

Comments

June 2008.

COinS