In some districts of Nogigun in Shimane-Ken, we found three cows which had shown the fading of hair color. The symptoms were similar to those of molybdenosis or copper deficiencies.
So we attempted an analysis of the enviromental factors and administered copper sulphate to the affected in order to ascertain the cause of the disease.
The results are as follows :
1. Molybdenum contents in the forage and rice straw found in the affected area were from trace to 2.8 p.p.m., copper cntents being from 4.95 p.p.m to 8.76 p.p.m. in dry matter, but there was no molybdenum and copper in the soil and the water.
But the materials employed in this experiment were so few that it might be dangerous for us to put too much emphasis upon these results.
2. The results of the administration of copper sulphate (1 gm. per day as CuSO_4. 5H_2O) to three affected cows are summerized as folow.
a) The mild diarrhea from which one cow had suffered stopped two months after the administration were begun, and no other change was detected in the health condition.
b) The decrease of the fading which had been recognized since 45-75 days after the administrstion, were almost gone 90-180 days safter.
c) We could find no remarkable change in the blood pictures except one cow which showed a slight increase of erythrocyte and hemoglobin contents.
3. From the results of the analysis of the enviromental factors alon, we could not determine which of molybdenum and copper had caused this desease, but at any rate it could be imagined, that copper took some part in the fading phenomenon, judging from the results of the supply of copper sulphate.