Quantitative aspects of the transformations of sulphur in sheep

1. [35S]sulphate was used to obtain quantitative estimates of the transfer of sulphur between the blood, rumen and postruminal tract of four sheep given brome grass (Bromus inermis) pellets or lucerne (Medicago sativa) pellets at the rate of 33 or 66 g/h. Sodium sulphate (0-4 g S/d) was infused into the rumen or abomasum of sheep given brome grass during four periods of 19 d and was not infused into the sheep during a subsequent period in which lucerne was given. The flow of sulphide, sulphate, microbial S and non-microbial organic S from the abomasum was estimated using 103Ru and 51Cr. 2. The concentration of inorganic sulphate in serum was increased to maximum values of 35-46 mg S/l by infusion of sulphate into the rumen or abomasum. The rate of irreversible loss of serum sulphate and rumen sulphide was positively related to the amount of sulphate infused. 3. Reabsorption of sulphate by the kidney reached a maximum of 0.69-1.1 mmol sulphate/l glomerular filtrate. 4. The transfer of sulphate from blood to the rumen was related to the concentration of inorganic sulphate in serum, attaining maximum values of 133 (+/- 13) mg S/d for sheep given brome grass plus sulphate, and 127-159 mg S/d for sheep given lucerne. 5. Bacteria derived 0.52-0.67 of organic S from rumen sulphide in sheep given brome grass, and approximately 0.45 of bacterial organic S was derived from sulphide for sheep given lucerne. Protozoa derived approximately 0.90 of organic S from bacteria. 6. It was estimated that endogenous organic S contributed 300-340 mg S/d to the rumen, and that 0.24-0.45 of S digested in the rumen was derived from endogenous sources.