Vitamin B12 responses to cobalt pellets in beef cows

• Published in: Australian veterinary journal Vol. 75; no. 9; pp. 660 - 662
• Main Authors: Judson, G.J, McFarland, J.D, Mitsioulis, A, Zviedrans, P
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01.09.1997
• Subjects: Animal Feed; Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; Animals; Animals, Domestic; beef cows; blood; blood plasma; Cattle; Cattle Diseases - prevention & control; cobalt; Cobalt - administration & dosage; faeces; feces; Female; grazing; liver; milk; Milk - chemistry; nutrient deficiencies; Nutritional Requirements; pastures; pellets; prevention; selenium; trace element deficiencies; Vitamin B 12 Deficiency - veterinary; Vitamin B12; South Australia
• ISSN: 0005-0423; 1751-0813
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1751-0813.1997.tb15365.x

Objective To assess the effectiveness of cobalt pellets in maintaining adequate vitamin B12 in beef cows on pasture of low cobalt content. Design A field experiment in a herd grazing cobalt deficient pasture. Animals Mature Murray Grey cows. Procedure Cows were given a single oral dose of 0, 1, 2 or 4 cobalt pellets (30 g pellets containing 30% by weight cobaltic oxide) with a selenium pellet and a grub screw. Samples of blood, liver, faeces and milk for chemical analyses were collected at intervals over a period of 2 years after treatment. Results A single cobalt pellet raised liver vitamin B12 concentration of cows above that of untreated cows for at least 28 weeks, and 2 or 4 pellets for 57 weeks. Plasma vitamin B12 concentration was an unreliable indicator of the effectiveness of cobalt pellet therapy. Milk vitamin B12 and faecal cobalt concentrations increased in response to cobalt pellet therapy. Conclusion These studies show that one cobalt pellet will prevent vitamin B12 inadequacy in beef cows for between 28 and 57 weeks; two or four pellets will prevent inadequacy for 57 to 75 weeks. Milk vitamin B12 concentration may be a useful indicator of the effectiveness of cobalt pellets in increasing the vitamin B12 supply in lactating cows.