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.