Response of Broiler Chicks to Supplemental Inorganic Sulphate and Sulphite Compounds in a Tropical Environment

Abstract Ologhobo, A.D., Jimoh, J.O. and Ayoade, G.O. 1998. Response of broiler chicks to supplemental inorganic sulphite and sulphate compounds in a tropical environment. J. Appl. Anim. Res., 14: 151–157. A feeding trial was conducted to determine the effectiveness of sulphate and sulphite compounds in sparing sulphur amino acid, methionine, in broiler chicks raised under a tropical environment. A significant (P<0.05) growth response was obtained by the addition of 0.30% DL-methionine or 0.15% methionine plus 0.10% sodium sulphate (Na2 SO4) to a corn-soybean basal diet confirming that the diet was deficient in methionine. Enhanced levels of serum protein (P<0.05) in diets supplemented with 0.3% methionine indicated good nutritional status of birds. The hypothesis is advanced that there is either a dietary requirement for sulphate “per se” or that sulphate spares methionine through conversion to cystine.