MOLYBDENUM CONTENT OF PASTURE PLANTS IN RELATION TO TOXICITY TO CATTLE

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Abstract
A peculiar disease in cattle, characterized by severe diarrhea, occurring in certain parts of the San Joaquin Valley, Cal., is brought about by abnormally large amts. of Mo in the pasture plants. A Mo content of 20 or more ppm. invariably produced the disease, whereas a Mo content of 10 ppm. or less did not. In the range between 10 to 20 ppm. the degree of succulence of the plant seems to be an important factor in producing the disease; the greater the succulence, the greater will be the injury to cattle. Conversely, feeding dry roughage of low Mo content tended to reduce excessive scouring in cattle, even when grazing on succulent plant pastures with a Mo content greater than 20 ppm. Many of the pasture legumes can absorb amts. of Mo harmful to cattle from soils that contain as little as 1.5 to 5 ppm. total Mo whereas few nonlegumes do so. The Mo content of these soils is only slightly higher than is normally found, but its solubility in water is high. The Mo content of legumes and nonlegumes alike increases with age of the plant and is highest in autumn. The greatest concn. of Mo was usually found in the blades of the leaves and in''the actively growing plant parts. No evidence of injury to the plants themselves was found, even when their Mo content was as high as 500 ppm.

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