With changing weather patterns and increasing nutritional challenges, ensuring your flock receives the right trace elements at the right time is more crucial than ever. One key nutrient which is crucial is COBALT — as it plays a vital role in flock health, performance, and profitability.
Why is COBALT Important for Sheep?
Sheep require a consistent daily intake of COBALT to synthesise Vitamin B12 in the rumen. This vitamin is essential for:
- Breaking down feed effectively
- Efficient conversion of that feed into liveweight gain
COBALT also plays a vital role in:
- Supporting appetite
- Optimising growth and development
Unlike some other nutrients, COBALT cannot be stored in the body, making daily supplementation essential to avoid performance dips.
How is the Changing Climate Affecting COBALT Availability?
The UK’s increasingly unpredictable weather is directly affecting soil mineral content:
- Excessive rainfall is leaching water-soluble trace elements like COBALT from the topsoil
- Drought conditions reduce mineral uptake in grass
- Seasonal fluctuations also play a role—rapidly growing grass in spring and autumn is typically lower in COBALT, while winter increases demand in pregnant or lactating ewes and in colder temperatures
As a result, areas that were once borderline for COBALT deficiency may now be experiencing significant shortfalls. This can impact flock health and returns if not addressed with precision.
What’s the Solution?
Agrimin’s 24·7 SMARTRACE® Adult Sheep bolus is designed to meet these evolving needs. Now with DOUBLE the COBALT content, the bolus delivers 1.6 mg of COBALT per day for 180 days, using guaranteed, patented release technology.
Use Pre-Tupping to Maximise Returns
Administering Smartrace® boluses 3–4 weeks before tupping can:
- Optimise conception and support lambing percentages
- Support ewe health through winter and pregnancy
- Support maternal transfer of nutrients to improve lamb vitality
- Strengthen the immune system across your flock
In a time of climate uncertainty and evolving nutritional challenges, precision supplementation with SMARTRACE® ensures your flock has what it needs, when it needs it—delivering consistency, for better returns.
DON’T FORGET THE BOYS! Optimal trace element status has shown to have links with semen vitality.
