Nutritional Availability of Cobaltic Oxide, Co₂O₃

Abstract

SINCE Marston's pioneer work¹, numerous investigators have established that cobalt is an essential element in the nutrition of ruminants. Sheep and cows reared on diets low in cobalt (less than 0.1 mgm./100 lb. of body weight/day) lose their appetites, fail to gain weight, become anæmic, and finally become emaciated. The cobalt usually is added to the diet as cobalt chloride, cobalt sulphate, or cobalt carbonate, in a mineral feed or in a salt block.