On-farm evaluation of cobalt/vitamin B12 supplementation for lamb growth on southern South Island properties

Authors

  • G.C. Pringle
  • B.H. Beckingsale
  • A.K. Metherell

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.33584/jnzg.2000.62.2388

Abstract

On-farm cobalt/vitamin B12 supplementation trials were carried out with 3-month-old weaned lambs (N = 50) on six southern South Island properties that were considered to be deficient or marginal for cobalt over the years 1996-1999. No significant liveweight responses of the lambs were recorded over a 3-month period on any of the farms in any year. When lambs were raised on cobalt-treated pasture and were injected with vitamin B12 or had rumen cobalt pellets administered, liver and serum vitamin B12 concentrations increased. Plot trials showed two light sprays of cobalt sulphate at 60 g/ ha, 2 months apart over summer, was an effective means of maintaining herbage concentrations in the desirable range, i.e., >0.1 mg Co/kg DM. Monitoring of herbage cobalt and tissue vitamin B12 concentrations of animals was essential to indicate when lambs may need cobalt or vitamin B12 supplementation. Current reference values over-estimated the probability of responses in this set of experiments. Keywords: Cobalt, cobalt herbage level, lamb growth, vitamin B12

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Published

2000-01-01

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Articles

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