Feeding willow to lambs (webinar)

Cobalt is an essential trace element for sheep used to make vitamin B12 which supports growth. However, cobalt deficiency (also known as ill thrift/pine) can be common in weaned lambs. This can cause significant production losses even at a sub clinical level due to poor growth rates.

Grass pasture rarely meets the daily requirement for lambs throughout the season and is actually lower in the dry summer months when weaned lambs should be at maximum growth rates. Therefore cobalt and/or vitamin B12 are often supplemented. However, administering boluses and drenches add cost both in terms of product and time to administer, we do not want to feed grass fed lambs and free access supplements cannot guarantee consistent intakes in all animals.

Willow leaves have been shown to have high concentrations of cobalt, there has been some research into feeding willow as a cobalt supplement and some farmers have begun to…