more troublesome in the eastern and southern parts of New Hampshire than 

 in the northern and western parts. This cannot be accounted for entirely by 

 the normal distribution of dairy cattle population in the state. 



Table 2 — Percentage of Cobalt Deficient Animals in Affected Herds 

 as Related to Breed and Age 



Table 2 gives the distribution of cobalt deficiency among the various 

 age groups and breeds. The deficiency was about twice as common among 

 calves and heifers as milking cows. It would appear that cobalt deficiency 

 might have been quite an important factor in causing hidden effects on 

 calves which would lower their productive efficiency later as members of 

 the milking herd. 



Cobalt deficiency affected a higher percentage of Guernseys than of 

 any of the other dairy breeds. A careful study of the situation, however, in- 

 dicated that this breed was probably more popular in the deficient areas. 

 Because of the fact that the herds in these areas were small, one or two 

 affected animals represented a relatively high percentage of such herds. In 

 those areas of the. state which were troubled less by cobalt deficiency. Jersey 

 and Holstein cattle were more popular and the herds were much larger. 

 Thus it would appear that there was little if any difference in the suscepti- 

 bility of the various breeds to cobalt deficiency. 



It is not possible to estimate the total number of animals that have been 

 affected or the financial loss that cobalt deficiency has caused New Hampshire 

 livestock owners over the years. There is no question, however, but that the 

 loss has been considerable. Person after person has told of animals that had 

 died or that had been sold for practically nothing. It raises the question as 

 to what effect the deficiency has had on bringing about the. abandonment of 

 farms which appear to have been prosperous at one time. 



Cobalt Deficiency in Sheep and Goats 



Soon after cobalt deficiency was found to be affecting cattle in the state, 

 cases of the deficiency also were found in sheep and in goats. The effects on 

 these animals were about the same as with cattle. In general, however, they 

 tended to be more severe. The response to cobalt feeding was just as spec- 

 tacular as it was with cattle. It was found that a relatively large number of 

 goats were affected in various parts of the state. The effect on sheep was 

 quite troublesome in certain areas in southern New Hampshire. 



