B12 blood tests

[BAW]

How low have other people’s blood tests for b12 been? Have had readings come back at around 150 pmol/l. Is that very low in lambs or just on the low side? I know it is having a effect on the lambs

 

[neilo]

According to my records, <188 pmol/l is considered low.

 

[Northumberland]

Above 295 was the target on my bloods.
We sit between 110 and 220 on my bloods and lambs will literally waste away and die if there not getting supplemented

 

[livestock 1]

Do you inject them with b12 to rectify this? I’ve seen it’s a big thing in nz

 

[Courier]

Do you inject them with b12 to rectify this? I’ve seen it’s a big thing in nz

NZ farmers don't add any unnecessary costs - 'nuff said.

 

[livestock 1]

NZ farmers don't add any unnecessary costs - 'nuff said.

Yeh that’s what I was thinking when I heard about them injecting them. Is it for production of red blood cells?

 

[BAW]

We have been drenching our lambs often with a high cobalt drench and because we stopped having trouble with ccn, we thought we were getting enough in to them. Turns out we haven’t been and need to get more into them. Hopefully trying smartshot next year.
Was hoping someone may know how much cobalt was actually needed to get them right?

 

[sheepman1]

What’s ccn?

thanks

 

[neilo]

We have been drenching our lambs often with a high cobalt drench and because we stopped having trouble with ccn, we thought we were getting enough in to them. Turns out we haven’t been and need to get more into them. Hopefully trying smartshot next year.
Was hoping someone may know how much cobalt was actually needed to get them right?

Despite what the drench salesmen might tell you, Cobalt is not stored in the body, so quantity is pretty irrelevant above what they can use in a day or so.
To adequately treat a deficiency by drenching you would have to be doing it every 3 days or so iirc. They need little and often, which is why a bolus, injection or grass application (in NZ) works so much better.

I was told by a vet a few weeks ago to run a mile if the French guys start talking about chelates too. Chelated cobalt would pass through the rumen to be released more slowly. The function of cobalt is to feed the rumen bacteria, who then manufacture the vitamin B12 that the animal needs.

 

[ISCO]

We used to drench pure cobalt every week to 10 days and worked very well but labour intensive. We have used Smartshot for 4years and it works. Half ml for lambs away by September, 1ml for longer keep and ewe lambs.
We have tried Troyvit this year as about quarter cost but not as long acting. So far worked well.

 

[BAW]

What’s ccn?

thanks

Something a vet, we used to have, told us was caused by a shortage of cobalt and b12 but I’m not sure

 

[BAW]

Despite what the drench salesmen might tell you, Cobalt is not stored in the body, so quantity is pretty irrelevant above what they can use in a day or so.
To adequately treat a deficiency by drenching you would have to be doing it every 3 days or so iirc. They need little and often, which is why a bolus, injection or grass application (in NZ) works so much better.

I was told by a vet a few weeks ago to run a mile if the French guys start talking about chelates too. Chelated cobalt would pass through the rumen to be released more slowly. The function of cobalt is to feed the rumen bacteria, who then manufacture the vitamin B12 that the animal needs.

Fingers crossed we can get smartshot or we will have to bolus the lambs. Just seeing if there is a scale to blood levels and if a drench and bolus will lift ewes to high enough levels. Hard to explain but is drenching with 1mg of cobalt sulphate per kg enough to increase the b12 blood levels from 150 up to >220pmol/l? Then of course maintain with bolus

 

[BAW]

We used to drench pure cobalt every week to 10 days and worked very well but labour intensive. We have used Smartshot for 4years and it works. Half ml for lambs away by September, 1ml for longer keep and ewe lambs.
We have tried Troyvit this year as about quarter cost but not as long acting. So far worked well.

Is Troyvit a similar thing to smartshot?

 

[ISCO]

Is Troyvit a similar thing to smartshot?

Yes it is a B12 injection .

 

[BAW]

Yes it is a B12 injection .

How often do you have to inject with that?

 

[livestock 1]

We’ve been bolusing all the lambs this summer with cobalt Selinium iodine and copper. Our lambs often have flakey ears indicating low cobalt. Previously we’ve given them a chelated drench but vets blood tests revealed that they aren’t as good as what’s said on the tin

 

[ISCO]

How often do you have to inject with that?

2 months

 

[Purli R]

What’s ccn?

thanks

CCN short for a long winded word I cant spell. Caused by a lack of vit B1 affects the brain,loose all coordination, go of there legs & ultimately succed in dying

 

[neilo]

CCN short for a long winded word I cant spell. Caused by a lack of vit B1 affects the brain,loose all coordination, go of there legs & ultimately succed in dying

‘Cerebrocortical necrosis’. I admit I cheated on the spelling...

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[Northumberland]

2 months
[/QUOTis it expensive per lamb?