The sparing action of inorganic sulphate on sulphur amino acids in practical broiler diets: Preliminary trials with young chicks1

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Abstract
In 3 trials marked responses to Na2SO4 were obtained, both in terms of growth rate and of food/gain ratio. In a 4th trial the chicks responded to graded additions of synthetic methionine but not to inorganic sulfate. The response of the chicks to Na2SO4 depended on the amount of sulfur amino acids in the diets, being absent or difficult to demonstrate in severely deficient diets or in those adequately supplemented, respectively. Sodium sulfate cannot replace more than about 0.05% supplementary methionine. Usually the efficacy of Na2SO4 in improving performance appeared to range from 40-60% that of synthetic methionine.