Performance and carcass characteristics of broiler chickens fed maize-cassava diets supplemented with methionine and inorganic sulphur

The major challenges of cassava supplementation in poultry diets are high cyanide and low protein content. This study was conducted to evaluate the nutritional value of maize-cassava diets supplemented with methionine and inorganic sulphur for broiler chickens. Atotal of 270 one day-old broiler chicks were randomly assigned to nine treatment groups of 30 birds with 10 birds per replicate. Starter and finisher diets were formulated and fed for a period of 56 days. Dietary treatments were subjected to completely randomized design. The birds were fed diets supplemented with 0, 125, 250 mg/kg DL-methionine and 0, 125, 250 mg/kg inorganic sulphur from Cu4SO .There was a linear increase in final weight (FW) and total weight gain (TWG) with supplementation of 125mg/kg DL-methionine across dietary sulphur levels at the starter phase. Birds fed diets supplemented with 125 mg/kg DL-methionine and 250 mg/kg inorganic sulphur showed higher (p<0.05values of 463.23g, 424.66g and 2.66 for FW, TWG and feed conversion ratio respectively. The finisher phase followed a similar trend. Carcass yield showed significant (p<0.05) improvement in dress weight, cut part and organ weight in birds fed diets supplemented with 125 mg/kg DL-methionine and 250 mg/kg inorganic sulphur. The findings revealed that birds with diets supplemented with125 mg/kg DL-methionine and 250 mg/kg inorganic sulphur showed improved growth performance and carcass yield. In conclusion from this study supplementation of DL-methionine and inorganic sulphur in diets for broiler chickens resulted in improved growth performance and carcass yield.

Paper carbon dot based fluorescence sensor for distinction of organic and inorganic sulphur in analytes

In this work a paper carbon dot (PCDs) based fluorescence sensor was developed which can distinguish between the organic and inorganic sulphur in analytes.

Studies of the soluble part of oxidised coals

Soluble products obtained from the oxidation of four types of coal, each characterised by different degree of coalification and different degree of sulphur content, are studied. The coals are oxidised with peracetic acid (PAA) and nitric acid. Analyses are performed by Atmospheric Pressure-Temperature Programmed Reduction (AP-TPR) and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR). The soluble products contain much more sulphur than the insoluble products of oxidation. The products obtained from the reaction with HNO3 contain higher amounts of inorganic sulphur compounds, while those obtained from the reaction with PAA are characterised by an increased content of organic sulphur species.