The influence of an increased cobalt supply on ruminal parameters and microbial vitamin B12 synthesis in the rumen of dairy cows

Abstract

The aim of the study was to examine the effects of an elevated dietary cobalt supply to dairy cows on rumen fermentation parameters and microbial vitamin B12 synthesis in the rumen. Five lactating dairy cows fitted with a ruminal and a duodenal cannula were subsequently fed either a ration containing only the native cobalt content (0.17 mg Co/kg DM) or a ration supplemented with cobalt sulphate (0.29 mg Co/kg DM). The pH-value, the ammonia concentration as well as the concentration and the molar proportions of short chain fatty acids in the rumen were not significantly influenced by feeding the ration with the higher cobalt content. While there was no difference in microbial protein flow, the cobalamin flow at the duodenum was significantly elevated in supplemented animals (3.67 ± 0.69 vs. 8.63 ± 2.22 mg B12/d). The efficiency of cobalt utilisation for ruminal vitamin B12 synthesis was calculated to be 7.1 ± 1.3% for the unsupplemented and 9.5 ± 2.4% for the supplemented ration. Further investigation has to prove if there are any benefits for cows resulting from the elevated cobalamin synthesis measured, caused by feeding higher amounts of dietary cobalt.