The Response of Cobalt-Deficient Lambs to Liver Extract and Vitamin B12

The curative activity of an antipernicious anemia liver extract when injected into cobalt-deficient lambs has been confirmed. Separation of this liver extract into 24 fractions by the counter-current distribution technic concentrated the active principle in fractions 12 to 18 inclusive. There was a high correlation between the vitamin B12 activity of these liver extract fractions and the appetite, weight, and hemoglobin responses in cobalt-deficient lambs, which led to a re-evaluation of the curative effects of pure vitamin B12. When large enough doses, 150 µg or more, of B12 were injected, the cobalt-deficient lambs responded favorably in appetite, body weight, and hemoglobin levels. The presently available data show that vitamin B12 is an important intermediary in cobalt metabolism in sheep.