Cobalt Chloride - Feed Ingredient

Cobalt chloride is an inorganic salt of cobalt, typically appearing as a reddish or pink crystalline solid. It is used in animal nutrition as a trace mineral supplement to provide cobalt, an essential element required for the synthesis of vitamin B12 (cobalamin) by hindgut microbes.

In equine diets, cobalt is not needed in large quantities, but it plays a critical role in enabling microbial production of vitamin B12, which is involved in energy metabolism and red blood cell formation. Cobalt chloride may be included in vitamin-mineral premixes or trace mineral supplements to ensure adequate dietary cobalt intake.