Failure to obtain a weight gain response to vitamin B12 treatment in young goats grazing pasture that was cobalt deficient for sheep

Authors: Clark RG, Verkerk GA, Mantleman L
Publication: New Zealand Veterinary Journal, Volume 35, Issue 3, pp 38-39, Mar 1987
Publisher: Taylor and Francis

Animal type: Goat, Livestock, Production animal, Ruminant
Subject Terms: Cobalt/vitamin B12, Trace elements, Growth/development, Vitamins
Article class: Correspondence

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Abstract: The current upsurge in the farming of goats has resulted in an increased interest in trace elements in this species. In some areas goats are being farmed on soil types known to be marginally or moderately cobalt deficient for sheep. The susceptibility of goats to cobalt deficiency is not well documented. In one study cobalt deficiency was induced in East African shorthorn goats, one to two years old, which were fed for 1.5 weeks on a diet with a cobalt content of less than 0.01 mg/kg DM. The deficient ranges for sheep and cattle diets are <0.08 mg/kg DM and <0.04 mg/kg DM respectively. This is a report of a vitamin B12 response trial in young goats grazing pasture of low cobalt content for sheep. The farm on which the trial was carried out was on Horotiu sandy loam soil at Tamahere near Hamilton. The trial involved 30 kids of which 13 were pure bred Angora, 13 Gl, three G2 and one G4; of these 17 were female and 13 male. The kids were born in late August and early September 198.5. The trial started on 8 March and ran until 8 July 1986 . The kids were randomly divided by sex and then weight into two groups…

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