Response of emaciated Kedah-Kelantan cows to cobalt supplementation or vitamin B12 injection

A. R. Azizan. H. Sharif, T. K. Yuen and T. P. Teoh

Abstract

Problems of emaciation among Kedah-Kelantan (KK) cows in a commercial beef farm was investigated. The emaciated animals were found to be suffering from macrocytic anaemia. Generally. The animals treated with cobalt pellet or vitamin B12 recorded average weight gain of 230 to,120 g/day. The 14th day results showed that vitamin 812 injected animals gained weight (5a0 g/day) whereas the cobalt-pellet supplemented and control group animals recorded weight losses (180-,180 g/day). The study showed that the emaciation was due to cobalt deficiency as indicated by vitamin B₁₂ deficiency. In addition to cobalt-pellet supplementation. a therapeutic dose of 4 ug/kg body weight of vitamin B₁₂ injection may be necessary to cover the first 14 days in severely affected cobalt-vitamin B₁₂ deficient cattle.

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