title: Effect of cobalt supplementation on serum vitamin B12 levels, weight gain and survival rate in lambs grazing cobalt-deficient pastures.
abstract: The effect of cobalt supplementation on serum vitamin B12, growth rate and survival rate was measured in controlled field experiments with Texel twin lambs of the same sex, grazing cobalt-deficient pastures. The non-supplemented lambs had lower serum vitamin B12 concentrations than their supplemented brothers or sisters. During the experiments more lambs died in the non-supplemented than in the supplemented group. At the end of the experiments supplemented lambs weighed (mean live weight) 7.2, 9.5, and 11.0 kg more than non-supplemented lambs in 1991, 1992, and 1993, respectively. Sex-related differences in weight gain and survival rate were observed.
authors.affiliation: Animal Health Service in The Northern Netherlands, Drachten, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Vellema
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Moll
authors.forename: H W
authors.initials: HW
authors.lastname: Barkema
authors.forename: Y H
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Schukken
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight; D003035:Cobalt / Q000172:deficiency* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000401:mortality / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000662:veterinary*; D008297:Male; D009426:Netherlands; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D012756:Sheep / Q000502:physiology*; D012757:Sheep Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000401:mortality / Q000517:prevention & control*; D015996:Survival Rate; D014805:Vitamin B 12 / Q000097:blood*; D014806:Vitamin B 12 Deficiency / Q000097:blood / Q000401:mortality / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000662:veterinary*; D015430:Weight Gain
chemical_list: D003035:Cobalt; D014805:Vitamin B 12