The interrelationship between methionine, choline, and sulfate in broiler diets

Two experiments were conducted to study the interrelationships between methionine, choline, and inorganic sulfate in a corn-soybean meal diet. The basal diet contained 21% crude protein and 3264 kcal ME/kg and no supplemental methionine, choline, or potassium sulfate. A 2 X 2 X 2 factorial arrangement of treatments was used involving .24% DL-methionine, 1100 mg choline/kg, and .10% potassium sulfate. A total of 384 Cobb, male, feather-sexed chicks were fed the experimental diets for 3 weeks in each experiment. Supplementing the basal diet with potassium sulfate in the presence of choline or methionine resulted in a greater growth response than when either was supplemented alone. A consistent sulfate response occurred when the diet contained supplemental choline and no supplemental methionine. Results indicated that sulfate must be present for choline to spare a maximum amount of methionine.