Investigations into the prophylaxis of cobalt deficiency in sheep
Whitelaw, A.; Russel, A.J.
Veterinary Record 104(1): 8-11
1979
ISSN/ISBN: 0042-4900 PMID: 433106 Document Number: 150023
The efficacy of various means of prophylaxis of cobalt deficiency in sheep was examined in three trials on areas of land known to have previously produced clinical cases of cobalt deficiency. Cobalt bullets given to 15 one-year-old ewes were effective in producing and maintaining high serum vitamin B-12 concentrations over a period of three years. Overall, the mean serum vitamin B-12 concentration of these ewes was approximately twice that of untreated animals. Mean serum vitamin B-12 concentrations of 390 lambs injected with 2 mg hydroxycobalamin were higher than those of untreated controls for only 3-4 weeks after treatment. Concentrations in lambs which had received cobalt bullets were always higher than those of the control or injected lambs. In 48 weaned lambs, serum vitamin B-12 concentrations reflected the treatment of the pasture more than one year previously with 0, 2.25 or 4.5 kg CoSO4 per hectare. On the areas to which cobalt had been applied, serum vitamin B-12 concentration increased slowly at first, and then more rapidly, final values after 10 weeks being of the order of 300, 1500 and 1800 pg per ml respectively. Cobalt bullets are likely to be more effective than either oral dosing with cobalt salts or the injection of hydroxycobalamin. Direct application of cobalt to pasture or soil is also likely to prove effective in preventing cobalt deficiency in sheep in most instances.