Influence of Dietary Cobalt on Fiber Digestibility and Serum Cobalt and Cobalamin Concentrations in Horses.
Abstract: The 2007 Horse NRC reduced cobalt (Co) requirements from 0.1 ppm to 0.05 ppm in dietary dry matter, though preliminary research suggested increasing dietary-Co enhanced fiber digestion in horses. This study aimed to evaluate fiber digestion with varying dietary Co amounts, as well as to compare serum Co concentrations with dietary Co content. Four geldings (mean body weight [BW] 503 ± 37 kg) were studied in a 4 × 4 Latin square design consisting of four 5-week periods, each comprising a 2-week washout phase followed by a 3-week treatment phase. Supplementing 0.0, 5.6, 16.8, or 28.0 mg of Co daily resulted in total Co dietary concentrations of 0.06, 0.7, 2.0, and 3.0 ppm, respectively. Feces and urine were collected to evaluate fiber digestibility and Co balance. Co supplementation did not affect neutral detergent fiber, acid detergent fiber, or lignin digestibility. Co balance was negative for the control diet but positive for the other three treatments ( = 0.04). Serum cobalamin concentrations slightly decreased (6%) with increasing dietary Co intake ( = 0.003), while folate concentrations were unaffected. Serum Co concentration differed ( < 0.01) with a mean of 4.7 μg/mL for the high treatment and 0.8 μg/mL for the control. Results suggest that serum Co concentrations above regulatory limits are likely due not to higher levels of Co in fortified feeds, but rather to parenteral administration of Co solutions.
Publication Date: 2024-12-12 PubMed ID: 39765500PubMed Central: PMC11672516DOI: 10.3390/ani14243595Google Scholar: Lookup
The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
- Journal Article
Summary
This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.
The research paper is about a study that explored the impact of varying amounts of cobalt in a horse’s diet on fiber digestion and concentrations of cobalt and cobalamin in horse serum. The findings indicate that supplementing a horse’s diet with cobalt does not significantly affect fiber digestibility and that elevated serum cobalt levels are likely due to the administration of cobalt solutions and not an abundance of cobalt in feed.
Objective of the Study
- The main objective of the study was to assess the effects of different levels of cobalt intake in the diet of horses on fiber digestion. This was fueled by a reduction in cobalt requirements from 0.1ppm to 0.05ppm in dietary dry matter as per the 2007 Horse NRC guidelines. The study also sought to investigate the correlation between serum cobalt concentration and the dietary cobalt content.
Research Methodology
- The study was designed as a 4 x 4 Latin square and involved four geldings with an average body weight of 503 ± 37 kg.
- There were four 5-week periods, each incorporating a 2-week washout phase followed by a 3-week treatment phase.
- Cobalt was administered in varying dosages, either as a daily supplement of 0.0, 5.6, 16.8, or 28.0 mg, creating total dietary concentrations of 0.06, 0.7, 2.0, and 3.0 ppm of cobalt, respectively.
- To determine cobalt balance and fiber digestibility, feces and urine were collected and analyzed.
Findings and Conclusion
- The study found that cobalt supplementation did not influence the digestibility of neutral detergent fiber, acid detergent fiber, or lignin.
- Cobalt balance was negative for the control diet but positive for the other diets supplemented with cobalt.
- In the presence of higher dietary cobalt intake, a slight reduction (6%) was observed in serum cobalamin concentration, however, folate concentrations remained unaffected.
- There was a notable difference in serum cobalt concentration, with a mean of 4.7 μg/mL for the high-dose treatment group and 0.8 μg/mL for the control group.
- It is inferred from the results that elevated levels of serum cobalt are likely due not to increased amounts of cobalt in fortified feeds, but to parenteral administration of cobalt solutions.
Cite This Article
APA
LeCompte Lazić RA, Nielsen BD, Robison CI, Schott HC, Herdt TH, Larson CK.
(2024).
Influence of Dietary Cobalt on Fiber Digestibility and Serum Cobalt and Cobalamin Concentrations in Horses.
Animals (Basel), 14(24), 3595.
https://doi.org/10.3390/ani14243595 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Animal Science, 474 S. Shaw Lane, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA.
- Department of Animal Science, 474 S. Shaw Lane, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA.
- Department of Animal Science, 474 S. Shaw Lane, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA.
- Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, 784 Wilson Road, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA.
- Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, 784 Wilson Road, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA.
- Zinpro Corporation, Eden Prairie, MN 55344, USA.
Grant Funding
- 00120113 / Zinpro
Conflict of Interest Statement
The research program of Brian D. Nielsen received funding from Zinpro Corporation to pay for some of the expenses associated with the study titled “Role of Dietary Cobalt Concentrations on Fiber Digestion in Horses”. Co-author C.K. Larson is an employee of Zinpro Corporation, which provided partial support for this study and which provided 2.0% COPRO25 used in this study. Authors R.S.L.L., C.I.R., H.C.S.II and T.H.H declare no conflicts of interest.
References
This article includes 31 references
- Hillyer LL, Ridd Z, Fenwick S, Hincks P, Paine SW. Pharmacokinetics of inorganic cobalt and a vitamin B12 supplement in the Thoroughbred horse: Differentiating cobalt abuse from supplementation.. Equine Vet. J. 2007;50:343–349.
- Tanner RS, Wolfe RS. Nutritional requirements of methanomicrobium mobile.. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 1988;54:625–628.
- Lopez-Guisa JM, Satter LD. Effect of copper and cobalt addition on digestion and growth in heifers fed diets containing alfalfa silage or corn crop residues.. J. Dairy Sci. 1992;75:247–256.
- Wenk C. The role of dietary fibre in the digestive physiology of the pig.. Anim. Feed Sci. Technol. 2001;90:21–33.
- Graham H, Aman P. Nutritional aspects of dietary fibres.. Anim. Feed Sci. Technol. 1991;32:143–158.
- Fehlberg LK, Lattimer JM, Droullard JS, Douthit TL. Effect of cobalt chloride on fermentation of alfalfa and smooth bromegrass hays by horse cecal microorganisms.. J. Equine Vet. Sci. 2019;77:75–79.
- Simonsen LO, Harback H, Bennekou P. Cobalt metabolism and toxicology—A brief update.. Sci. Total Environ. 2012;432:210.
- Déry MA, Michaud MD, Richard DE. Hypoxia-inducible factor 1: Regulation by hypoxic and non-hypoxic activators.. Int. J. Biochem. Cell Biol. 2005;37:535–540.
- Ho EN, Chan GH, Wan TS, Curl P, Riggs CM, Hurley MJ, Sykes D. Controlling the misuse of cobalt in horses.. Drug Test. Anal. 2015;7:21–30.
- Mørkeberg J. Blood manipulation: Current challenges from an anti-doping perspective.. Hamatology 2013;1:627–631.
- Paulick R. Is Cobalt a Killer in Horses?. Paulick Report .
- Knych HK, Arthur RM, Mitchell MM, Holser I, Poppenga R, Smith LL, Helm MN, Sams RA, Gaskill CL. Pharmacokinetics and selected pharmacodynamics of cobalt following a single intravenous administration to horses.. Drug Test. Anal. 2015;7:619–625.
- Henneke DR, Potter GD, Kreider JL. Body condition during pregnancy and lactation and reproductive efficiency of mares.. Theriogenology 1984;21:897–909.
- Van Soest PV, Robertson JB, Lewis BA. Methods for dietary fiber, neutral detergent fiber, and nonstarch polysaccharides in relation to animal nutrition.. J. Dairy Sci. 1991;74:3583–3597.
- Larson C, Nielsen BD. Personal communication.. 2013.
- Liu Y, Zhang J, Wang C, Liu Q, Guo G, Huo W, Chen L, Zhang Y, Pei C, Zhang S. Effects of folic acid and cobalt sulphate supplementation on growth performance, nutrient digestion, rumen fermentation and blood metabolites in Holstein calves.. Br. J. Nutr. 2021;27:1313–1319.
- National Research Council. Nutrient Requirement of Horses.. 6th ed. The National Academies Press; Washington, DC, USA: 2007.
- National Research Council. Nutrient Requirement of Horses.. 5th ed. The National Academies Press; Washington, DC, USA: 1989.
- Andrews ED, Stephenson BJ. Vitamin B12, in the blood of grazing cobalt-deficient sheep.. N. Z. J. Ag. Res. 1966;9:491–507.
- Fisher GEJ, McPherson A. Effect of cobalt deficiency in the pregnant ewe on reproductive performance and lamb viability.. Res. Vet. Sci. 1991;50:319–327.
- Kincaid RL, Socha MT. Effect of cobalt supplementation during late gestation and early lactation on milk and serum measures.. J. Dairy Sci. 2007;90:1800–1806.
- Stillions MC, Teeter SM, Nelson WE. Utilization of dietary vitamin B12 and cobalt by mature horses.. J. Anim. Sci. 1971;32:252–255.
- Brewer K, Maylin GA, Fenger CK, Tobin T. Cobalt use and regulation in horseracing: A review.. Comp. Exerc. Physiol. 2016;12:1–10.
- McKeever KH, Malinowski K, Fenger CK, Duer WC, Maylin GA. Evaluation of cobalt as a performance enhancing drug (PED) in racehorses.. Comp. Exerc. Physiol. 2020;16:243–252.
- IFHA. Cobalt Threshold Values-Advisory Document.. .
- Kwak YB, Yu J, Im EJ, Jeong BS, Yoo HH. Study of cobalt doping control via various routes in thoroughbred horses.. Drug Test. Anal. 2021;14:718–723.
- Wenzel RG, Major D, Hesp KF, Hall E, Doble P. Cobalt accumulation in horses following repeated administration of cobalt chloride.. Aust. Vet. J. 2019;97:465–472.
- Ebert B, Jelkmann W. Intolerability of cobalt salt as an erythropoietic agent.. Drug Test. Anal. 2014;6:185–189.
- Burns TA, Dembek KA, Kamr A, Dooley SB, Dunbar LK, Aarnes TK, Bednarski LS, O’Brien C, Lakritz J, Byrum B. Effect of intravenous administration of cobalt chloride to horses on clinical and hemodynamic variables.. J. Vet. Int. Med. 2018;32:441–449.
- National Research Council. Mineral Tolerance of Animals.. 2nd ed. The National Academies Press; Washington, DC, USA: 2005.
- Folwer JF Jr. Cobalt.. Dermatitis 2016;27:3–8.
Citations
This article has been cited 0 times.Use Nutrition Calculator
Check if your horse's diet meets their nutrition requirements with our easy-to-use tool Check your horse's diet with our easy-to-use tool
Talk to a Nutritionist
Discuss your horse's feeding plan with our experts over a free phone consultation Discuss your horse's diet over a phone consultation
Submit Diet Evaluation
Get a customized feeding plan for your horse formulated by our equine nutritionists Get a custom feeding plan formulated by our nutritionists
