Ovine cobalt deficiency in the Coromandel county

Authors: Clark RG, Mortleman L, Bithell JL, Williamson L, Fraser AJ
Publication: New Zealand Veterinary Journal, Volume 33, Issue 12, pp 218-220, Dec 1985
Publisher: Taylor and Francis

Animal type: Livestock, Production animal, Ruminant, Sheep
Subject Terms: Biosecurity, Cobalt/vitamin B12, Trace elements, Diet/rations/food, Disease surveillance, Epidemiology, Nutrition/metabolism, Vitamins
Article class: Correspondence

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Abstract: An important indicator as to whether cobalt deficiency in likely to occur in ruminants is the knowledge of whether deficiency signs can develop on the soil type they are grazing. Andrews (1971) has listed soil types on which cobalt deficiency in sheep and cattle has occurred, or is suspected to have occurred. The evidence for deficiency was based (in descending order of reliability) on experiments indicating live weight response to cobalt supplementation and/or liver cobalt or vitamin B12 content (i.e. animal tissue tests) and on results of chemical analysis of pasture and soil content. We wish to report the occurrence of cobalt deficiency in the Coromandel county related to soil types not documented by Andrews. The evidence is based on sheep liver and serum vitamin B12 levels in samples submitted for routine diagnosis, from sera vitamin B12 and pasture cobalt levels obtained on 11 farms, in a more intensive investigation, and a significant lamb weight gain response to vitamin B12 supplementation on one farm…

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