Vetnews July 2022: Cobalt Deficiency in Ruminants

Introduction

All ruminants (including sheep, cattle and goats) require cobalt in their diet for the synthesis of vitamin B12. Vitamin B12 is an essential part of several enzyme systems that carry out a number of basic metabolic functions and is required for energy metabolism, the production of erythrocytes and maintaining nervous system integrity. These functions are significantly affected in the deficient state. Cobalt deficiency in soils is directly related to vitamin B12 deficiency in livestock as plants have no essential requirement for cobalt, so uptake by plants is variable.