The vitamin B12 deficiency By: Rebecca and Terah

Deficiency Cobalt deficiency in ruminants, decreased growth, anemia, poor feathering rough hair, abortion, small litters, poor hatchability and folacin deficiency.

Causes of Cobalt (Vitamin B12) Deficiency Ruminants rely entirely on their rumen microbes to incorporate cobalt into vitamin B12. The vitamin B12 status of the animals is therefore not entirely dependent on the level of cobalt in the soil and diet. The efficiency with which cobalt is incorporated into vitamin B12 by the rumen microbes, the efficiency of absorption and the metabolic demands of the coenzyme-dependent functions are also important factors. Dietary levels of cobalt below 0.05 mg/kg DM are regarded as inadequate. Soil values of cobalt below 0.3 mg (5.1 m mol)/kg soil, are regarded as 'deficient'.

Treatment & Control of Cobalt (Vitamin B12) Deficiency Several methods of supplying cobalt are used in conventional cattle farming. They include: supplementation of concentrate feeds, cobalt supplementation in salt licks/ free access minerals, oral administration of cobalt slow-release pellets/boluses, periodic oral drenching with cobalt and application of cobalt sulfate directly to pasture. The application of cobalt sulfate to pasture used to be one of the most commonly used methods to prevent cobalt deficiency in animal production. The increased price of cobalt salts has tended to moderate their use as fertilizers.

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