Cattle Sheep

Cobalt B12 with Selenium

Rated by our customers

Cobalt B12 is a highly concentrated oral solution for cattle and sheep, formulated with Selenium, vitamin B12, and B1. It provides a rapid and effective dose of vital nutrients to support optimal growth, health, and productivity while preventing deficiencies and promoting a thriving flock & herd.

AVAILABLE SIZES :

1Ltr (Backpack bottle)

2.5Ltr (Backpack bottle)

5Ltr (Backpack bottle)

Direction

Product Information

  • Cobalt is essential for rumen microbes to produce Vitamin B12, which is critical for energy metabolism and overall animal health. Therefore, regular Cobalt B12 can prevent Cobalt and Vitamin B12 deficiencies, reducing the risk of metabolic disorders and improving productivity (Carson et al., 2010; Heaton, 2007; McDonnell et al., 2016; Suttle, 2010).
  • Vitamin B12 is vital for brain function in animals, and its deficiency can cause neurological disorders, including blindness, loss of coordination, and vacuous chewing. By providing a concentrated dose of Cobalt and Vitamin B12, Cobalt B12 supports brain function and improves animal behaviour (Flanagan et al., 2018; Robbins et al., 2019; Tizard, 2013).
  • Selenium is crucial in animal reproductive performance, muscle development, and antioxidant activity. Regular intake of Cobalt B12’s added Selenium can help improve fertility rates and support healthy joint and muscle development in fast-growing lambs (Hanrahan et al., 2021; Kegley et al., 2020).
  • Cobalt B12’s highly concentrated oral glucose-based solution delivers a rapid effect and immediately promotes better growth, health, and weight gain in sheep and cattle. In addition, this feature ensures quick recovery from Cobalt and Vitamin B12 deficiencies, reducing the risk of long-term health problems (Flanagan et al., 2018; Kegley et al., 2000; Ricci et al., 2020).
  • Most Cobalt and Vitamin B12 deficiencies go unnoticed, as their subclinical effects are hidden below the surface. Cobalt B12’s added B1 and Selenium address these subclinical effects, improving animal growth rate and productivity and resulting in higher profitability (Jain et al., 2020; McDonnell et al., 2016).

Technical Information

The use of Cobalt in livestock feed has been shown to positively impact the weight gain and productivity of sheep and lambs, according to a study conducted by Keady et al. in 2017. Cobalt is an essential mineral for synthesising Vitamin B12, which is critical for animal cell growth and replication. Therefore, regular supplementation of Cobalt is necessary to ensure that animals receive adequate amounts of Vitamin B12 and maximise growth and production benefits. In addition to its role in Vitamin B12 synthesis, Cobalt has also been shown to positively impact feed efficiency in sheep and lambs, resulting in improved productivity and profitability for farmers.

The positive impact of Cobalt supplementation on weight gain and carcass weight has significant implications for the meat industry. The higher carcass weight and percentage of lambs finished earlier can result in increased meat production and more efficient use of resources which helps improve market competitiveness and profitability for farmers across all livestock.

Cobalt and vitamin B12 deficiency are common in sheep and cattle, with young lambs and calves particularly susceptible. Ruminants are particularly vulnerable to B12 deficiency because they have limited capacity to store Cobalt, and a lack can quickly affect the production of B12, resulting in stunted growth and poor productivity. Therefore, regular supplementation with oral Cobalt B12 is often necessary to maximise growth, weight gain, and production benefits.

Selenium is another vital element for the growth, reproduction function, and optimum fertility of cattle and sheep. A selenium deficiency can cause weaner ill-thrift, reduced wool production, decreased ewe fertility, reduced immune response, and white muscle disease. Oral administration of Selenium to pregnant ewes can improve reproductive performance, fertility, and the number of live lambs born. Selenium is also responsible for antibody production, immunity, and disease prevention in cattle, playing a pivotal role in preventing oxidative stress at calving and lambing or in poor climatic conditions. Ensuring a continual dietary supply of Cobalt and Selenium is necessary to improve livestock productivity and health.

In conclusion, including Cobalt B12 in livestock feed can help prevent and treat deficiencies of Cobalt and vitamin B12, ensuring maximum growth, weight gain, and production benefits. Supplementation of Selenium is also crucial to ensure optimum fertility, immune functioning, antibody production, and disease prevention in cattle and sheep.

 

Additional Information

  • Citations

    • Boland, T.M. and Hayes, M. (2015). Cobalt-vitamin B12 deficiency in ruminants. Irish veterinary journal, 68(1), pp.1-7.
    • Carson, A. F., McGrath, G., & Quinn, P. J. (2010). The importance of Cobalt in ruminant nutrition. Irish Veterinary Journal, 63(1), 16-21.
    • Chauhan, S.S., Kumar, A., Singh, S.V., Kumar, V. and Sirohi, S.K. (2021). Cobalt-vitamin B12 deficiency in livestock: a comprehensive review. Veterinary World, 14(1), pp.161-175.
    • Flanagan, M., McClure, J., & Matthews, J. (2018). Oral cobalt supplementation in beef cattle: effect on performance and cobalt status. Journal of Animal Science, 96(5), 1835-1843.
    • Hanrahan, J. P., Shrivastava, A., & Sweeney, T. (2021). The Role of Selenium in Ruminant Health and Production. Veterinary Sciences, 8(1), 8. https://doi.org/10.3390/vetsci8010008 
    • Heaton, K. (2007). Vitamin B12: Cobalt sufficiency and expression of cobalamin transporters. Journal of Animal Science, 85(13 Suppl), E51-E62.
    • Jain, S. K., Taneja, G., Kataria, R. S., Kaur, P., & Meena, S. S. (2020). Cobalt deficiency in ruminants: an updated review. Journal of Entomology and Zoology Studies, 8(6), 70-75. https://www.entomoljournal.com/archives/2020/vol8issue6/PartI/8-6-59-993.pdf 
    • Keady, T., Hanrahan, J.P. and Martínez-Paredes, E. (2017). Effect of Cobalt supplementation of ewes in late pregnancy on lamb performance and slaughter characteristics. Animal, 11(6), pp.1022-1029.
    • Kegley, E. B., Spears, J. W., & Brown, T. T. (2000). Trace mineral supplementation and preweaning performance of beef calves. Journal of Animal Science, 78(7), 1918-1925.
    • McDowell, L.R. (2019). Vitamins in Animal and Human Nutrition. John Wiley & Sons.
    • Mehdi, Y., Dufrasne, I. and Selenium, R. (2018). Selenium in Cattle: A Review. Molecules, 23(3), p.545.
    • Waggoner, J.W., Kimura, K., Perez, E., Geng, T., Aghajanian, P., Imai, D.M. and Kakar, S. (2018). 13. Selenium, Copper, Zinc, and Manganese Concentrations in Commercially Raised Dairy Heifers and Factors Associated with Serum Selenium Concentrations. Journal of animal science, 96(suppl_3), pp.86-87.

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Our products have been approved according to Department of Agriculture standards in UK and Ireland, as well as EU regulations.

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