Cobalife Vitamin B12 & Sel 500ml Elanco **

Cobalife B12

B12 is an essential mineral for many functions in sheep and cattle, particularly energy production.

It is really important to remember that the exact response to any injectable B12 will be varied, based on the sheep’s current B12 status.

Their current status will be influenced by dietary cobalt intake, and stage of production which may or may not have outstripped their own natural production of B12.

Pyramid Hill and surrounding areas are not traditionally known to be deficient in cobalt.

B12 is made naturally by the animal from dietary cobalt which is converted to B12 in the rumen (largest stomach). B12 is then used, stored in the liver, and any excess is excreted via the urine.

If a sheep is sufficient in B12 at the time of injection, the B12 will be excreted.

If they have some B12 stored in their liver then the injection will “top them up”

If they have low levels of B12 stored they will gain a response in growth or production due to sufficient B12 helping with energy production.

The B12 in vaccines is a fairly small dose

The B12 in Cobalife is more targeted to body weight and therefore can be assumed to give a more appropriate top-up, however we must still assume that some animals will have a “full cup” so response will vary.

If a producer is looking for a better dose rate of B12, particularly if they felt sheep or cattle were deficient in dietary Cobalt and therefore B12, then they are better off to use this product rather than just the B12 contained within vaccines.

Refer to product label for dose rates