A possible effect of cyanogenic glucoside in sorghum on animal requirements for sulphur

Abstract

SUMMARY A significant proportion of the sulphur (S) ingested by animals grazing Sorghum spp. may be utilized to detoxify hydrogen cyanide liberated after the forage has been ingested. In 1973 young sheep grazing a sorghum x sudangrass hybrid were given access to salt licks containing < 0.1 % (control) or 18 % S; in two experiments the live-weight responses to S were 32% ( P < 0.05) and 18% ( P > 0.05). In 1974 sheep grazing forage fertilized with 84 kg N/ha and given access to licks containing 8.5% S gained 32 % more live weight than controls with 0.1 % licks. Those with S on forage fertilized with 168 kg N/ha gained 88 % more ( P < 0.01). Gypsum applied as a fertilizer (0 or 21 kg S/ha) did not affect the response.