Synthesis of Cystine I N Wool from Elemental Sulfur and Sulfate Sulfur

T HE data in the literature do not clearly indicate the value of inorganic sulfur supplements in ruminant rations. Recently Garrigus et al. (1950) obtained data using a low-sulfur, semipurified ration which suggested that elemental sulfur could be utilized by sheep as measured by weight gains and wool growth. Block and Stekol (1950) showed that when NaoS~504 was administered orally to a cow the S ~ appeared in the cystine and methionine of the milk proteins. Block et at. (1951) confirmed those data using a goat and also demonstrated that when Na,.,$3504 was administered orally to a ewe the proteins of the rumen contents contained S 35. The purpose of this experiment was to determine if elemental sulfur and sulfate sulfur could be utilized in the production of wool proteins using S ~ as a tracer.