Response of cobalt-deficient sheep to oral administration of penicillin.

Abstract

IT is now generally acknowledged that a deficiency of cobalt in the diet of ruminant animals may induce a vitamin B12-deficiency, since without sufficient cobalt certain ruminal micro-organisms fail to synthesize the vitamin B12 needed by the host animal. Several workers have reported that the dietary vitamin B12 requirements of chicks and rats may be reduced by the oral administration of penicillin.