Abstract
During 6 years, altogether 458 twin lambs of the Dala and Rygia breeds with their dams were put on ovine white-liver disease (OWLD) pastures which were moderately, heavily or not cobalt fertilized, or on control pastures 15 km apart. Groups of lambs were untreated, regularly dosed with Co sulphate or vitamin B12, dosed with Co pellets, copper oxide needles (CuO), selenium pellets or Co-Se-Cu glass boli, or had access to Co enriched salt lick. Clinical symptoms in untreated lambs included varying degree of reduced weight gain or loss of weight appearing after 6-12 weeks on pasture, at an age of 10-15 weeks. Additional symptoms were seen 2-4 weeks later, including inappetence, listlessness, and often serous eye discharge and crusty ears. Of the untreated lambs on OWLD pastures 18% died or were eutanized because of OWLD. The condition was preventable by Co or B12 administration, which yielded an average increase of mid Sept. live weights of between 8 and 17 kg. Co fertilization of pastures, use of Co enriched salt lick, or dosing with Co pellets are recommended under practical circumstances. The lambs grazing control pastures were on average 17 kg heavier by mid Sept. than the OWLD lambs. They showed some weight increase on extra Co supply.
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.