Excess Dietary Cobalt in Pigs

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Abstract
Five experiments were conducted, in which 240 growing finishing pigs were used, to determine the level of Cobalt (Co) which is toxic. Pigs tolerated up to 200 mg/kg of Co when added to corn-soybean meal diets containing 82 to 178 mg/kg of iron. The addition of 400 or 600 mg/kg of Co caused anorexia, growth depression, stiff-leggedness, humped back, incoordination and extreme muscular tremors. Serum and organ levels of Co were greatly increased and serum and organ levels of iron (Fe) were significantly reduced by added dietary cobalt. The addition of .5 or 1.0% methionine to the diet completely alleviated the toxic affects caused by the 600 mg level of Co and restored serum Fe to near normal levels. The addition of Fe, manganese (Mn) and zinc (Zn) in combination at levels of 200, 400 and 400 mg/kg, respectively, also alleviated the growth depression caused by the 400 mg level of Co and higher levels of Fe, Mn and Zn (200, 600 and 600 mg/kg) partially restored feed intake and growth when 600 mg of Co was fed. Iron alone was not effective in overcoming the growth depression caused by 400 or 600 mg/kg of dietary cobalt. Copyright © 1976. American Society of Animal Science . Copyright 1976 by American Society of Animal Science

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