Vitamin B-12

[bklein]

I was told my dairy steer needed a shot of B-12 to stimulate appetite, How much do I give him and were is it a shot in the muscle or sub Q, or is oral? New to this thanks for your help

 

[hillsdown]

It depends on the strength of the B12 and how much your steer weighs .

It depends on the situation ,newborns get it orally along with D and selenium . Sick calves or cows get it IM or IV .

What does the label say ?

For your steer I would give it IM .

 

[bklein]

He weighs 1,200 lbs, and it is B-12 3,000 micrograms

 

[Lucky_P]

It won't hurt anything - but unlikely to help or even be necessary. B12 deficiency is exceedingly rare in cattle; so long as their diet contains trace amounts of cobalt(like 0.1ppm), the rumen microbes can synthesize it. B12 deficiency can be a problem in pre-ruminant calves, or cattle that are off feed - but I'd hazard a guess that most B12 that's given to cattle is totally unnecessary.