Cobalt Deficiency in Young Cattle

THIS mineral element exists in the body in only trace amounts and its
use is not clearly understood. It is believed that it has to do with
hematopoesis-the making of blood. It probably acts as a catalyst. At any
rate animals deficient in the element become anemic. Cobalt deficiencies
are known to occur in certain areas in certain countries. The condition has
been reported in Australia and New Zealand. Again on the north American
continent in the state of Florida where the term "salt sick" was originally
applied to the ailment. More recently it has been reported in the state of
Michigan.
Strangely the manifestations of a cobalt deficiency are similar to those
observed in a phosphorus deficiency. Affected cattle show a depraved ap-
petite and chew at wood partitions in the pens and stalls, lose their appetite
and grow thin and emaciated. The loss of appetite is even more marked
than in phosphorus deficiency. In Michigan the determination that the
condition was not a phosphorus deficiency was made by the occurrence
of the disease in herds where the foods were known to carry ample amounts
of phosphorus and the recovery of the affected animals by the addition
of a cobalt supplement to the diet.
As examples of the results obtained in cases of this nature are revealed
in the following experiences:-
A breeder of Shorthorn cattle in Grey County wrote for information
regarding a bull calf just over a year old which had been in the stable all
of last summer and well fed on a variety of feeds such as mixed hay, roots,
bran, oil-cake and in addition suckled by his mother until the cattle were
stabled in the fall. He was in good condition. Rather suddenly he quit feed-
ing and ate less and less until he was scarcely eating anything but trash.
Out in the barnyard he would eat at a pile of horse manure. A quantity of
cobalt sulphate with directions for its use was forwarded to the owner of
the animal and on March 5th he commenced using it. For the first three
days the patient had to be drenched for he was not eating enough food to
get a sufficient amount of the cobalt to be of any value by mixing it with
the grain. After three days he commenced eating and the cobalt was admin-
istered by giving it with his food. In about two weeks the animal was eating
all the good feed the owner could give him and was doing fine.
On another occasion four Jersey calves from eight to twelve months of
age went off their feed in the same manner. They became very thin and
spent the most of their time chewing at the wooden partition and the wall
of the barn. These calves were well fed on a properly balanced ration. At
the time of this examination they were a scrawny poor looking lot of ani-
mals. As they would drink some inilk the cobalt solution was given with
the milk. The wooden partition and wall was screened off with wire gates
so they could not chew at them and they were also given Vitamin A and D
potent cod liver oil. Regardless of this in a month's time after the com-
mencemeint of the use of the cobalt these calves were sleek, looked good,
had entirely gotten over their depravity of appetite and have done well ever
since. According to the quality and variety of the feed they were receiving
*From the Annual Report of the Ontario Veterinary College, IC43.

[2921
 Canadian JouMal
Comparative
of
Medicine Cobalt Deficiency in Young Cattle VOctobIer,
Vo.VIII-No.19110 11293J
4

before they developed the deficiency there was no reason to suppose they
needed the vitamin supplement other than the fact that they were not eating
and it is felt that the cobalt supplement was the corrective agent.
Regarding the use of Cobalt where it is believed necessary the follow-
ing,directions will suffice. In the writer's experience he has used the solu-
tion of Cobalt Sulphate for a diet supplement rather than mixing it with
the feed.
Mix one-half ounce of pulverized cobalt sulphate or one-fourth ounce
of cobalt carbonate with 100 pounds of salt and allow free access to this
mixture. In extreme cases, however, where the appetite is adversely af-
-fected, or in case of calves, dissolve one ounce of cobalt sulphate in 128 oun-
ces of water and feed one tablespoonful per calf per day for one week and
one teaspoonful per day thereafter. The response to cobalt is usually rapid,
sometimes the difference can be observed within a few days.
* From the M.S.C. Veterinarian, Vol, III, 1943
*0 * _

Intradermal Vaccination of Jersey Calves

with Brucella Abortus Vaccine (Strain 19)
By R. WALTON*
F ROM TIME to time reports are received indicating very severe re-
actions in Jersey calves following vaccination for contagious abortion.
These reactions have occurred in an experimental herd vaccinated by the
author. Fortunately the calves soon make a recovery but the owner tends
to discredit the vaccine and in some cases the Veterinarian.
Others' have had the same diffuculty and have suggested giving the
usual dose in two portions two or three days apart. This however, necessi-
tates a second trip to the farm which from the standpoint of the practitioner
is uneconomical and perhaps impractical.
Following the last case of reaction, all Jersey calves in our herd have
been vaccinated intradermally with 1 c.c. of the vaccine. While as yet the
number vaccinatted is small and the elapsed time too short to draw definite
conclusions, no reactions have occurred. Three cases are presented here:
Cow #93 was vaccinated at 156 days of age. At the post vaccination
test 37 days later, her blood titre was 200G. Six months following, this ani-
mal's titre had returned to negative. No reaction at time of vaccination.
Cow #94 was vaccinated at 233 days of age. Post vaccination test 44
days later revealed a titre of 100. Time enough has not elapsed for further
tests. No reaction at time of vaccination.
Cow #45 was vaccinated at 137 days of age. Post vaccination test 16
days later revealed a titre of 200. Further tests have not been made on this
calf. No reaction at time of vaccination.
Summary
It is realized that this is a very limited and incomplete experiment, but
the absence of reactions in these cases and the fact that intradermal vaccin-
ation gives as good results as the larger subcutaneous dose, would warrant
further and more complete studies on this procedure.
MITCHELL & MOORE - Can1. Joutrnal of Compp. Medicine - Feb. 1941.
2 Dilutions of higher than 1:200 were not run.
* Acting Animal Pathologist, Veterinary Laboratory, Department of Agriculture, Edmonton, Alberta.