EN
The study aimed at assessing the effect of the optimum dose of cobalt sulfide that can be applied in feed for bulls bred in the parts of Poland reported to be deficient in Co, Cu, Mo and Zn as a measure to eliminate symptoms of cobalt deficiency. The study group consisted of 36 bulls of the black and white breed at the age of 18 months. Among symptoms previously observed in this group of animals were the lack of appetite, licking, emaciation, paleness of mucosa, dryness of the skin, dullness of the hair and coughing. The bulls were divided into three groups of 12 animals each. Control animals were placed in group I where no cobalt additives were used in the feed. Animals in group II received 30 iHg Co (per animal, administered per os on a daily basis for 60 days). Group III animals received the same trace element in a form of intramuscular injections at 30 mg Co per animal every three days. At commencement, and later on the 30th and 60th day of the experiment, 4 animals from each group were slaughtered to determine the concentration of Co in the liver, atomic absorption spectrophotometry was used. It was found that although Co was detected in the liver at concentrations above those recognized as insufficient, clinical symptoms had occurred accompanied by low weight gains characteristic for deficiency in trace elements in the organism. Augmentation of feed with Co produced a therapeutical effect higher than the one noted when Co was administered intramuscularly.