Cobalt Metabolism Studies with Sheep

Abstract

An experiment was carried out with cobalt deficient sheep to determine if cobalt injected intravenously made its way into the rumen in sufficient quantities to account for the slow recovery normally obtained. A second experiment was conducted to see if cobalt fed in the form of the carbonate, which is relatively insoluble in water, becomes soluble enough to be absorbed from the digestive tract. Using labeled cobalt in the form of the sulfate, it was found that very small amounts of injected cobalt do reach the rumen contents. It appears that the amount of such cobalt reaching the rumen contents may be adequate under certain conditions to bring about a slow recovery from the deficiency. Labeled cobalt in the form of the carbonate was found to be absorbed in appreciable quantities as indicated by its presence in the blood and urine.