Mineral supplementation is a major business in all livestock systems. There are certain times of the year where mineral supplementation is warranted, but there are also significant sums spent on minerals that may not be delivering any benefit.

Cobalt supplementation is one area where there is generally merit for a high percentage of flocks.

Research

Teagasc has carried out extensive research in this area in recent years.

Issues typically start to emerge from the end of July onwards but this can differ, depending on the mineral status on the farm.

Characteristic signs start with lambs performing below target or losing condition, despite being on a relatively good level of nutrition, while tell-tale signs of more advanced problems are lambs starting to pine away, going dry in the wool and in cases experiencing the skin on their ears becoming scaly or scabby with skin flaking away.

Characteristic signs start with lambs performing below target or losing condition, despite being on a relatively good level of nutrition

Advice from vets points to lambs requiring about 1mg of cobalt per head per day. It is important to note that lambs do not store cobalt and therefore supplementation will be required every two weeks where administering an oral drench.

Other options

Other options include administering boluses or feeding meal with an adequate mineral inclusion level.

Adding cobalt to water may also be an option but, in this scenario, you need to be confident that lambs will be drinking regularly.

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