Download Sulfur from Feed and Water

Chris Richards
Beef Cattle Extension Specialist
Stillwater
Natural Occurrence and
Processing
 Widely distributed in nature
 Ores
 Gypsum, barite, epsom salts
 Mineral springs
 Occurs with:
 Coal, petroleum, natural gas
 Soils, water, plants and animals
Sulfur in Nutrition
 Distributed widely throughout body and is found


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in all cells
Bulk of body sulfur found in sulfur containing
amino acids and proteins
Represents ~ 0.15 - 0.25% total body weight
Some sulfate recycled via saliva to rumen
Excreted primarily in urine
Sulfur-Containing
Amino Acids
 Microbes of the ruminant can use inorganic sulfur
to synthesize sulfur amino acids and vitamins
 Methionine

Essential amino acid
 Cysteine
 Cystine
 Taurine
 Homocysteine
 Cystathionine
Sulfur
 0.15% = requirement
 0.40% = toxicity
Feed Sulfur Concentration
Feed
Average
Range
Alfalfa hay
0.28
0.21 – 0.54
Corn grain
0.13
0.11 – 0.17
WDG plus sol.
0.44
0.35 – 0.90
Condensed
distillers solubles
0.40
1.00 – 2.23
Corn gluten feed
0.47
0.40 – 0.75
Soybean meal
0.46
0.35 – 0.60
Water
 Salts
 carbonate, bicarbonates, sulfates,
nitrates, chlorides, phosphates, fluorides
 Impacts palatability
Estimated Daily Water Intake of
Cattle Gal/Day
Water vs Feed Consumption
 Ex. 1,000 lb steer or 1400 pound lactating cow


1,000 ppm of contaminant
20 Gal water consumed

167 lb of water
75 g of contaminant or
2.7 oz contaminant

Up to 6x impact of feed concentrations


TDS for Cattle if S is potential
Sulfate in Water
Deficiencies in Ruminants
 Effect on rumen microbes
 Reduced digestibility of ration
 Sub-optimal utilization of non-protein nitrogen
 Decreased numbers of rumen microbes
 Depressed microbial protein synthesis
S from Water on Performance
S from Water on Performance
Eructated H2S is inhaled
allowing H2S to enter the
brain causing necrosis of the
grey matter.
Polioencephalomalacia (PEM) in
Cattle
 Known as “Star Gazers” or “Blind Staggers”
 Sulfur Toxicity
 Some relation to Thiamin deficiency
 Nervous system disorder
 Necrosis of cerebrocortical region of brain
Interactions
 Excess sulfur increases the dietary Cu
requirement for ruminants
 H2S + molybdenum  thiomolybdates
 Thiomolybdates bind Cu
 Sulfide formation in the rumen also adversely
affects Cu bioavailability by the formation of
insoluble cupric sulfide
Interactions
 Added sulfate increases the Se requirement
 Affects Se uptake by rumen microbes
 High S intake increases Se excretion
 S and Se form structural analogs
 Se can replace sulfur in methionine and cysteine
(Se spares S)
 S has not been shown to replace Se for biological
activity
Copper Deficiency
Loss of Hair Pigmentation
Rough Hair – Enlarged Joints
ABNORMAL JOINT THICKENING CLASSICAL COPPER
Organic Trace Minerals
Metal amino acid chelate
Metal amino acid complex
Metal polysaccharide complex
Metal proteinate
Hydroxy Minerals
Summary
 S is important – required - toxic
 Can be feed based, but more common in complete
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diets
Water has a large impact – increased summer risk
Cattle can adapt to some level
Induces PEM – S vs. Thiamin deficiency different
Cu, Se, Mn
Vit E and C