Effect of cobalt supplementation on lamb growth rates in the face of cobalt deficiency

Hamer, K., Mylin, H., Barrie, D., Busin, V. and Denholm, K. (2020) Effect of cobalt supplementation on lamb growth rates in the face of cobalt deficiency. Veterinary Record Case Reports, 8(2), e001099. (doi: 10.1136/vetreccr-2020-001099)

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Abstract

A hill farm in eastern Scotland had noted poor lamb growth rates since 2014. Cobalt, selenium and copper deficiencies were reported from historical blood sample results, and trace element supplementation had been administered to the ewes, but not the lambs. A supplementation trial was undertaken in 2018 to compare the daily liveweight gain (DLWG) between lambs supplemented with trace elements and unsupplemented lambs. The trace element supplements used were intraruminal boluses containing 51-mg cobalt, 10-mg selenium and 60-mg iodine (Downland Essential Lamb bolus, Downland). Blood samples taken two months postsupplementation showed that unsupplemented lambs had cobalt-deficient status, but not selenium deficiency. Lambs supplemented with the trace element boluses had an increase in DLWG of 49 g/day compared with unsupplemented lambs. This case confirms that cobalt supplementation on deficient farms can be associated with a significant improvement in growth rates of growing lambs on Scottish hill farms.

Item Type:Articles
Status:Published
Refereed:Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:Hamer, Miss Kim and Denholm, Mrs Katie and Busin, Valentina
Authors: Hamer, K., Mylin, H., Barrie, D., Busin, V., and Denholm, K.
College/School:College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Biodiversity, One Health & Veterinary Medicine
Journal Name:Veterinary Record Case Reports
Publisher:BMJ Publishing Group
ISSN:2052-6121
ISSN (Online):2052-6121
Published Online:03 June 2020
Copyright Holders:Copyright © 2020 British Veterinary Association
First Published:First published in Veterinary Record Case Reports 8(2): e001099
Publisher Policy:Reproduced in accordance with the publisher copyright policy
Data DOI:10.5525/gla.researchdata.1014

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