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| Sulfur Effects in Weanling Pigs Dietary sulfur from distillers dried grains has been suggested to be detrimental for pig growth. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of increasing concentrations of dietary sulfur on pig performance. Corn-soybean meal-based diets were used to differentiate any sulfur effect from distillers dried grains. The treatments were the inclusion of dietary sulfur at 0.0, 0.2, 0.4, or 0.6% of the diet. Each treatment was replicated with eight pens of four pigs per pen. Sources of added sulfur were sodium bisulfate (NaHSO4) and calcium sulfate (CaSO4•2H2O); both were provided in equal amounts. All diets were formulated to provide similar amounts of ME, CP, Ca, available P, and digestible lysine within each feeding phase. Two feeding phases were used for 14 and 21 d, respectively. Pigs were weaned at about 21 days of age and the experiment started two weeks after weaning. Pig growth and feed efficiency were reduced (P < 0.05) proportionally to the inclusion of dietary sulfur. Feed intake followed a similar pattern of response to dietary sulfur on the overall period. Perex, V.G. and co-workers. 2011. Sulfur addition in corn-soybean meal diets reduced nursery pig performance. J. Anim. Sci. Vol. 89, E-Suppl. 1/J. Dairy Sci. Vol. 94, E-Suppl. 1; abstract T196, page 334. |
