Molybdenum and animal health in New Zealand

Extract

Molybdenum is the most recent addition to the group of trace elements that are important in agriculture. In New Zealand it has a special importance, for here it has great possibilities for doing good to animal production, and almost equal possibilities for doing harm. The good comes from improved pasture and crop yields when molybdates are used as fertilizers for deficient soils. The harm is due to stock poisoning by excess molybdenum already present in some pastures or getting there through careless use of molybdate fertilizers.