High dietary sulfur decreases the retention of copper, manganese, and zinc in steers.

To examine the effects of dietary S on diet digestibility and apparent mineral absorption and retention, 16 steers [8 ruminally fistulated (368 ± 12 kg BW) and 8 unmodified (388 ± 10 kg BW)] were paired within modification status and BW, and within each of the 2 consecutive 28-d periods, 4 pairs of steers were randomly assigned to either a low-S (0.24%) or high-S (0.68%) pelleted diet. Bromegrass hay was fed at 5 or 7% of the diet, during periods 1 and 2, respectively. Sodium sulfate was used to increase the S content of the high-S diet. The low-S steers were fed the amount of feed their high-S counterpart consumed the previous day, while the high-S steers received 110% of the previous day's intake. Steers were adapted to individual metabolism stalls for 4 d (d -3 to 0 of period), acclimated to diet for 7 d (d 1 to 7 of period), and after high-S steers were consuming ad libitum intake for 7 d (d 14 of period), total urine and feces were collected for 5 d. Feed intake and orts were recorded daily. Dry matter and OM digestibility were determined. Jugular blood was collected before and after each collection period on d 14 and 20, and liver biopsies were collected on d 0 and 27. Macromineral (Ca, K, Mg, and Na) and micromineral (Cu, Mn, and Zn) concentrations were determined for pellets and hay, orts, feces, urine, and plasma and liver samples from each steer via inductively coupled plasma spectrometry. Dry matter intake, DM and OM digestibility, and urine volume were not affected (P ≥ 0.11) by dietary treatment, but fecal output was greater (P = 0.02) in the low-S steers than the high-S steers. A high-S diet decreased plasma Cu (P = 0.04) and liver Zn (P = 0.03) compared to low-S steers. No differences (P ≥ 0.20) were noted among urinary excretion of Cu, Mn, and Zn. Sodium absorption was greater (P < 0.01) and Cu, Mn, and Zn retention was lesser (P ≤ 0.01) in the high-S steers than the low-S steers. Apparent absorption of Ca, K, and Mg was not affected (P ≥ 0.18) by dietary treatment, while absorption of Cu, Mn, and Zn in the high-S treatment was lesser (P ≤ 0.06). In conclusion, consumption of a high-S diet for 28 d had limited effects on Ca, K, Mg, and Na absorption and retention, but decreased Cu, Mn, and Zn retention, which may limit growth and production of cattle consuming a high-S diet long-term.