Mineral Cobalt For Cattle

Vitamins B complex perform a variety of functions in the body. The major source of vitamins in dairy cattle is green roughages which is a feed ingredient that has a high concentration of slowly degradable fiber. It is general knowledge B vitamins, including folic acid and vitamin B12 can be synthesized by ruminal bacterial.

High quantity production of milk is associated with higher vitamin requirements as it is utilized for higher metabolism and milk production.

Vitamin B12 (also called cobalamin) is produced only by bacteria and archaebacteria if Co supply is adequate. The lack of a trace mineral, cobalt, can result in a vitamin B12 deficiency in cattle. This is because cobalt is a part of the vitamin B12 compound and is essential for rumen bacteria to manufacture this vitamin.

Cobalt is an essential component in microbial synthesis of vitamin B12 in ruminants and it is the central atom of the vitamin B12 molecule. Cobalt deficient in animals will show general symptoms such as poor appetite, reduced performance and reproductive.

One glass (250 ml) of milk can provide more than 1 μg of vitamin B12. Cows’ milk is an ‘excellent source’ of vitamin B12, this is due to one glass of milk (250 ml) provides nearly 50 % of the RDA.
Mineral cobalt for cattle