NCR-SARE Research and Education grantee, Patricia Johnson, published, "Effects of supplemental Mo on animal performance, liver Cu (copper) concentrations, ruminal hydrogen sulfide concentrations, and the appearance of S (sulfur) and Mo (molybdenum) toxicity in steers receiving fiber-based diets" in the Journal of Animal Science.
Johnson and the research team wanted to identify a feed additive that would negate the toxic effects of high-sulfate water thereby allowing cattle to safely graze rangelands with high-sulfate water sources. The research team identified an alternative, molybdenum, as a potential feed additive for reducing the negative effects of high-sulfate water consumption. Preliminary results showed molybdenum substantially reduced the production of hydrogen sulfide gas in vitro. The results, however, also indicated that molybdenum is ineffective in reducing the negative impacts of high-sulfate water on animal health and performance. Although this study did not yield a feed additive that counteracts the effects of high-sulfate water on cattle health and performance, it has evaluated and eliminated from further consideration several options that had been thought to have great potential for resolving this problem.
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This material is based upon work that is supported by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, U.S. Department of Agriculture through the Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) program. Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the view of the U.S. Department of Agriculture or SARE.