Sulphur Metabolism and Excretion Studies in Ruminants VIII. Methionine Degradation and Utilization in Sheep When Infused Into the Rumen or Abomasum

Abstract

Methionine (2 g/day) was continuously infused either abomasally or ruminally into two groups of sheep (four per group) over a 6-week period. After a further 6 weeks on the basal diet, which supplied daily 900 g dry matter, 18· 3 g nitrogen, and 1· 45 g sulphur, the infusion treatments were reversed. A control group of four sheep did not receive infusions. After 13 days on each treatment L-[35S}methionine was continuously infused, along with the carrier methionine, for 5 days during which the sheep were fed at 2-hourly intervals.