The diagnosis and treatment of vitamin B12 deficiency in young lambs

ISSN： 1176-0710

Source： New Zealand Veterinary Journal, Vol.21, Iss.11, 1973-11, pp. : 234-237

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Abstract

In the course of some earlier experiments, it was observed that vitamin B₁₂ deficiency in 2 hoggets was corrected by injection of hydroxocobalamin (vitamin B_12b) (E. D. Andrews, pers. comm., 1972). Since this form of therapy offered a convenient and effective means of treating young lambs suffering from vitamin B₁₂ deficiency, more detailed investigations were desirable. It has been known for some time that lambs on the cobalt-deficient area at the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, Kaitoke Farm lose condition after weaning. Abnormal amounts of methylmalonic acid (MMA) had been found in the urine of some of these lambs, indicating a state of vitamin B₁₂ deficiency (Andrews et al 1970). These circumstances provided an opportunity to carry out a trial at Kaitoke Farm to test the long-term effects of injections of vitamin B_12b on the thrift of lambs from weaning onwards, to gain further information on the use of urinary MMA assays in the diagnosis of vitamin B₁₂ deficiency, to measure the. effect of propionate loading on the excretion of MMA in urine, and to measure the effect of propionate loading on the rate of clearance of propionate from the urine by deficient lambs and vitamin B_12b supplemented lambs.