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The effect of cobalt supplementation, as an oral drench or pasture treatment, on the growth of lambs

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 September 2010

J. R. Griffiths ,
R. J. Bennett  and
R. M. R. Bush
J. R. Griffiths
Affiliation:
National Agricultural Advisory Service, Westbury-on-Trym, Bristol
R. J. Bennett
Affiliation:
National Agricultural Advisory Service, Westbury-on-Trym, Bristol
R. M. R. Bush
Affiliation:
National Agricultural Advisory Service, Westbury-on-Trym, Bristol
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Summary

In a trial to investigate an ill-thrift problem in lambs on an Exmoor farm frequent oral drenching with cobalt sulphate was compared with pasture spraying. There were two groups of twin lambs reared respectively on sprayed and unsprayed pasture. One partner from each twin set was drenched with cobalt sulphate every two weeks. There were no significant differences in live-weight gain up to weaning time. Thereafter there was little difference in the progress of the twins on sprayed pasture. On the unsprayed pasture, however, the drenched lambs had gained an average of 9 lb live weight more than their partners over a period of 15 weeks but were still about 7 lb lighter than the lambs on sprayed pasture.

Blood vitamin B12 concentration, assayed with Lactobacillus leichmannii, was not well correlated with the treatment of the groups and all values were above commonly accepted critical levels.

Type
Research Article
Information
Animal Production , Volume 12 , Issue 1 , February 1970 , pp. 89 - 94
Copyright
Copyright © British Society of Animal Science 1970

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References

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