Abstract

The efficacy of a novel injectable formulation containing barium selenate (BaSeO4) and microencapsulated Vitamin B12 was evaluated in groups of lambs (n=10) over 246 days in terms of changes in blood Se and serum Vitamin B12 concentrations as well as growth responses. Mean blood Se and serum Vitamin B12 concentrations of the untreated control lambs were 125 ± 9 nmol/L and 508 ± 21 pmol/L, respectively. The formulation increased blood Se to 2100 nmol/L at day 64 before decreasing to 761 nmol/L at day 246. Likewise, serum Vitamin B12 reached a peak of 1950 pmol/L at day 31 before decreasing to 577 pmol/L at day 246. The treatment significantly increased (P<0.05) daily weight gains from 125 ± 4 to 136 ± 4 g/day. An injectable Se/Vitamin B12 product containing 12 mg Se as BaSeO4 and 3 mg Vitamin B12 per dose administered at docking was effective in increasing and maintaining the Se and Vitamin B12 status of lambs for at least 246 days.

ND, Grace, and SO Knowles

Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production, Volume 63, Queenstown, 18-20, 2003