Chemical composition of sheep bones as influenced by molybdenum supplementation

Two corn silage diets containing .4 and 10 to 12 ppm molybdenum (dry matter) were fed ad libitum to two groups of six crossbred wethers each. Wethers were kept on these diets for 7 mo, and at slaughter various bones of front legs were dissected. Wethers fed added molybdenum had more molybdenum and zinc in bones than controls. Greater concentration was in the later ossifying portion of the bone than in the more mature areas. Copper, magnesium, phosphorus, calcium, and total ash of sheep bones were unaffected by dietary molybdenum. The compact shaft contained more ash, calcium, phosphorus, and magnesium than the proximal and distal part of the bone. No differences were significant in nitrogen, carbon dioxide, and uronic acid contents of the various bones between the two diets. Site of bone sampling, however, influenced organic composition of bones. Nitrogen concentration was greater at proximal and distal ends of bone than in the shaft. Carbon dioxide varied similarly but in a reciprocal fashion.