cobolt deficiency in lambs

NLL · 30-07-2010, 18:06

does anyone know about this and what to do if this proves to be the problem. A sample of lambs have had three tubes of blood taken each by the vet. They are well but not growing, all still eating pellets, some scouring but no worm eggs present.

Daleslad · 30-07-2010, 20:20

Hiya

IF it turns out to be cobalt, you can get a drench for them which is fairly cheap - just squirt a bit down their throats and you will see a response in the next week or so.

When you say scour, and still eating pellets, I'm not 100% sure if it will be cobalt though....
I take it they are outside? If so, have they plenty of grass? Have you changed brand of pellet recently? Some times cake can be a bit 'rich' for sheep, and cause a bit of scour

NLL · 30-07-2010, 20:41

thanks, i changed them off pellets to try one bag of mix ,which they wouldnt eat so have put them back on the pellets.The vet is thinking cobolt deficiency because they are just not growing but are well, active and eating.I dont think they have grown since I weaned them even though it went very smoothly.

pontyboy · 30-07-2010, 21:24

what colour are the lambs coats? if they're really white them it may well be a vit and trace element deficency.if it is then there are a few ways to resolve it,plenty of vit and t e doses about,or you could treat the land they're grazing with somthing like grasstrac.maybe somebody that's used it could tell you if it works well or not.

blonde equi babe · 30-07-2010, 21:48

Try Liquithrive lamb,fantastic results ,52 different vitamins,minerals and trace elements .It will balance up the lambs and dry up any scour immediately and go on to allow the lamb to thrive ring 07828915234 for further info.

pontyboy · 30-07-2010, 21:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by blonde equi babe

Try Liquithrive lamb,fantastic results ,52 different vitamins,minerals and trace elements .It will balance up the lambs and dry up any scour immediately and go on to allow the lamb to thrive ring 07828915234 for further info.

yep that's what i use.forgot to ask which type of wormer did you use,could fluke be a problem on your farm?

JD_Kid · 31-07-2010, 00:27

if it's cobolt just give them a B12 injection and be done with it cost ya only a few cents per head cheeper than getting Vet tests if only testing for one min also the blood test will only tell you on that day IE like looking at ya wallet Vs checking ya bank account ..

ummmm don't buy in to the wool going white story in fact i'd go the other way any colour markings on them black spots faces legs etc etc that are not jet black ya have a prob wool change in colour and lifeless matted rotting etc etc are all signs wool should be white and bright strong with no breaks in it

Dry Rot · 31-07-2010, 05:28

I have a copper and cobalt deficiency here. I have been out of sheep for some years but routinely dosed (cobalt bullet) for both deficiencies. Sometimes a lamb would spit the bullet out or for some reason not get dosed and it would not thrive. I seem to remember the wool goes slightly reddish in colour, not white, though my book doesn't mention it.

NLL · 31-07-2010, 09:37

thank you for your replies.
the farm hasnt had sheep for over 50 years.We have no fluke in the area.
I will try the liquid thrive as I was talking to a hill farmer last night and he always doses his lambs with that.The fleeces are normal colour and the lambs are bright and eating, but just not growing and about half are scouring. It was Levicide [yellow] that I wormed them with.

Joyce · 31-07-2010, 12:00

Might be answered in your first post, but were they checked for coccidia also?

Some years ago I had a scouring ewe and she eventually cleared up when I finally dosed her with vecoxan after trying everything else - I think ??? memory! she'd had a faecal test for worms and fluke which showed nothing unusual.

Joyce

NLL · 31-07-2010, 13:21

I had 2 lambs test positive for coccidia very early on ,all lambs were treated and then retested negative a while later.The vet took samples for testing but thought it was too late in the year but just covering all possibilities.I have seriously dagged up some lambs this morning and they all had clic applied last monday, having used crovect before.The blood results should be back wednesday or thursday.

30-07-2010, 18:06	#1
NLL Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: co.durham Posts: 28	cobolt deficiency in lambs does anyone know about this and what to do if this proves to be the problem. A sample of lambs have had three tubes of blood taken each by the vet. They are well but not growing, all still eating pellets, some scouring but no worm eggs present.

30-07-2010, 20:20	#2
Daleslad Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Yorkshire Dales Posts: 454	Re: cobolt deficiency in lambs Hiya IF it turns out to be cobalt, you can get a drench for them which is fairly cheap - just squirt a bit down their throats and you will see a response in the next week or so. When you say scour, and still eating pellets, I'm not 100% sure if it will be cobalt though.... I take it they are outside? If so, have they plenty of grass? Have you changed brand of pellet recently? Some times cake can be a bit 'rich' for sheep, and cause a bit of scour

30-07-2010, 20:41	#3
NLL Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: co.durham Posts: 28	Re: cobolt deficiency in lambs thanks, i changed them off pellets to try one bag of mix ,which they wouldnt eat so have put them back on the pellets.The vet is thinking cobolt deficiency because they are just not growing but are well, active and eating.I dont think they have grown since I weaned them even though it went very smoothly.

30-07-2010, 21:24	#4
pontyboy Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: ceredigion Posts: 148	Re: cobolt deficiency in lambs what colour are the lambs coats? if they're really white them it may well be a vit and trace element deficency.if it is then there are a few ways to resolve it,plenty of vit and t e doses about,or you could treat the land they're grazing with somthing like grasstrac.maybe somebody that's used it could tell you if it works well or not.

30-07-2010, 21:48	#5
blonde equi babe Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: yorkshire Posts: 115	Re: cobolt deficiency in lambs Try Liquithrive lamb,fantastic results ,52 different vitamins,minerals and trace elements .It will balance up the lambs and dry up any scour immediately and go on to allow the lamb to thrive ring 07828915234 for further info.

31-07-2010, 00:27	#7
JD_Kid Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Akaroa Posts: 6,416	Re: cobolt deficiency in lambs if it's cobolt just give them a B12 injection and be done with it cost ya only a few cents per head cheeper than getting Vet tests if only testing for one min also the blood test will only tell you on that day IE like looking at ya wallet Vs checking ya bank account .. ummmm don't buy in to the wool going white story in fact i'd go the other way any colour markings on them black spots faces legs etc etc that are not jet black ya have a prob wool change in colour and lifeless matted rotting etc etc are all signs wool should be white and bright strong with no breaks in it __________________ Remember, there's a big difference between kneeling down and bending over This space would look better with sheep smilies If ya reading this .. it's the end of this post

31-07-2010, 05:28	#8
Dry Rot Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Scotland Posts: 606	Re: cobolt deficiency in lambs I have a copper and cobalt deficiency here. I have been out of sheep for some years but routinely dosed (cobalt bullet) for both deficiencies. Sometimes a lamb would spit the bullet out or for some reason not get dosed and it would not thrive. I seem to remember the wool goes slightly reddish in colour, not white, though my book doesn't mention it.

31-07-2010, 09:37	#9
NLL Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: co.durham Posts: 28	Re: cobolt deficiency in lambs thank you for your replies. the farm hasnt had sheep for over 50 years.We have no fluke in the area. I will try the liquid thrive as I was talking to a hill farmer last night and he always doses his lambs with that.The fleeces are normal colour and the lambs are bright and eating, but just not growing and about half are scouring. It was Levicide [yellow] that I wormed them with.

31-07-2010, 12:00	#10
Joyce Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Uist Posts: 1,833	Re: cobolt deficiency in lambs Might be answered in your first post, but were they checked for coccidia also? Some years ago I had a scouring ewe and she eventually cleared up when I finally dosed her with vecoxan after trying everything else - I think ??? memory! she'd had a faecal test for worms and fluke which showed nothing unusual. Joyce __________________ Go to Chat Zone! Off Topic & Politics!

31-07-2010, 13:21	#11
NLL Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: co.durham Posts: 28	Re: cobolt deficiency in lambs I had 2 lambs test positive for coccidia very early on ,all lambs were treated and then retested negative a while later.The vet took samples for testing but thought it was too late in the year but just covering all possibilities.I have seriously dagged up some lambs this morning and they all had clic applied last monday, having used crovect before.The blood results should be back wednesday or thursday.

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