Effect of inorganic sulphate on molybdenum excretion by a marsupial.

Abstract

Dick and Bull1 published the first record of a copper–molybdenum interaction in sheep and cattle in which copper stored in the liver is reduced by increasing molybdenum intake. Later, Dick2 showed that inorganic sulphate has to be ingested with molybdenum before this element can exert a limiting effect on the storage of copper in the liver of sheep. Afterwards, Wynne and McClymont3 found that it was possible to produce experimental hypocuprosis by feeding penned sheep intake levels of copper, molybdenum and inorganic sulphate of the same order as those which occur naturally in pastures of New South Wales, where sheep develop hypocuprosis. Spais4 has described a similar ‘induced’ copper deficiency in flocks of sheep grazing on coastal areas of Thessalonika, Greece, where food plants have normal copper but high molybdenum and inorganic sulphate levels.