17 Sadaqat Ali Chattha Muhammad Qamar Shahid Abdur Rahman Ansari Zeeshan Muhammad Iqbal Muhammad Zahid Farooq Iahtasham Khan Journal of Animal and Plant Sciences JAPS 20262026 36 5 1018-7081 https://doi.org/10.36899/JAPS.2026.5.0115 <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 12pt; text-align: justify; line-height: 1.1;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: black;">Since wool contains high-sulfur protein, the rumen needs enough inorganic sulfur to synthesize sulfur-containing amino acids (SAA) such as cysteine and methionine. Therefore, current investigation aimed to determine the effects of inorganic sulfur</span><span style="color: black;"> (as sodium sulfate, Na₂SO₄) and rumen-protected methionine (RPM) on production and quality of wool</span><span style="color: black;">. Five different diets were given to s</span><span style="color: black;">ixty lactating ewes of Lohi breed </span><span style="color: black;">under Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD),</span><span style="color: black;"> </span><span style="color: black;">where blocking was done by age </span><em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black;">i.e.</span></em><span style="color: black;"> younger (</span><span style="color: black;">30 &plusmn; 5 months) and older (60 &plusmn; 5 months) having 30 animals in each block. The ewes were divided into five groups of 12 animals each, consisting of 6 ewes each from younger and older age cohorts. Five diets included C (control; no supplementation of</span><span style="color: black;"> Na₂SO₄</span><span style="color: black;"> or RPM), S1 (</span><span style="color: black;">Na₂SO₄</span><span style="color: black;"> @ 0.18 % of dry matter), S2 (20 % additional </span><span style="color: black;">Na₂SO₄than that of S1), </span><span style="color: black;">M1 (RPM @ 2 gm /head /day), M2 (20 % additional RPM than that of M1). <em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Ad libitum</em> grazing was allowed to all ewes on grazing field containing Jantar (<em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Sesbania sesban</em>) and local grasses along with 250 gm concentrate /head /day during six-month trial period. </span><span style="color: black;">The study found that supplementation type, rate, and age of ewe significantly influenced plasma methionine concentration, staple length, fiber diameter, and clean wool yield. </span><span style="color: black;">The highest plasma methionine concentration was observed in supplement group M2 (</span><span style="color: black;">4.44 &plusmn; 0.04 &micro;mol/dl</span><span style="color: black;">) while the lowest plasma methionine concentration was observed in control group C (</span><span style="color: black;">4.05 &plusmn; 0.04 &micro;mol/dl</span><span style="color: black;">).</span><span style="color: black;"> Rumen-protected methionine (RPM) supplementation had a more pronounced effect on these factors compared to Na₂SO₄ supplementation. Furthermore, the </span><span style="color: black;">age</span><span style="font-family: 'Cambria Math', serif; color: black;">‑</span><span style="color: black;">dependent responses were observed, wherein younger ewes showed greater responsiveness to both RPM and Na</span><span style="font-family: 'Cambria Math', serif; color: black;">₂</span><span style="color: black;">SO</span><span style="font-family: 'Cambria Math', serif; color: black;">₄</span><span style="color: black;"> supplementation compared to older ewes.</span></span></p> wool, rumen-protected methionine, inorganic sulfur, quality traits, Lohi sheep Pakistan Agricultural Scientists Forum https://thejaps.org.pk/AbstractView.aspx?mid=2025-JAPS-744