What is vitamin B12?
Vitamin B12 (cobalamin) is the largest and most complex vitamin molecule, built around a central cobalt atom. Neither plants nor animals can synthesise it; it is made only by certain bacteria and archaea. Cyanocobalamin is the stable form produced industrially by bacterial fermentation and used in feed and supplements.
In the body, B12 works as two coenzymes: methylcobalamin, which with folate regenerates methionine from homocysteine, and adenosylcobalamin, which is needed to convert methylmalonyl-CoA to succinyl-CoA, a key step in the metabolism of propionate and some amino acids.
What does vitamin B12 do in animal feed?
- Poultry: supports growth, feed efficiency, feathering and, in breeders, hatchability and chick quality. Corn-soy diets contain virtually no B12, so supplementation is standard.
- Pigs: needed for growth and blood formation; sow diets are supplemented to support the B12 supply to the piglets.
- Ruminants: rumen microbes make B12 if the diet provides enough cobalt. Ruminants rely heavily on propionate for energy, so cobalt deficiency soon shows up as B12 deficiency, with poor appetite, weight loss and anaemia. In these animals the usual remedy is cobalt in the mineral premix.
- Calves, fish and companion animals: dietary B12 is included through milk replacers and complete feeds.
Forms and sources
Feed ingredients of animal and microbial origin, such as fish meal, meat and bone meal and fermentation by-products, contain B12, whereas grains and oilseed meals contain practically none. As animal by-products are used less, all-plant diets depend on supplemental B12.
- Cyanocobalamin 1% and 0.1%: diluted on a carrier (such as calcium carbonate or starch) so that the tiny amounts needed can be distributed evenly in a premix.
- Other cobalamins, such as hydroxocobalamin, are used mainly in veterinary and human products rather than feed premixes.
How is the inclusion level assessed?
Vitamin B12 is included at extremely low levels, usually stated in micrograms per kilogram of feed, which is why diluted forms are used. Nutritionists set the level by species, age and production stage, taking into account the share of animal-origin raw materials in the diet. For ruminants, the cobalt supply is assessed first. The active-content basis (pure cyanocobalamin versus product weight) must be clear in every specification. Local regulations and the product label prevail.
Quality criteria
- Assay of cyanocobalamin in the diluted product (for example 1% or 0.1%).
- Homogeneity of the dilution and suitable particle size for even distribution.
- Loss on drying and carrier identity.
- Stability: cyanocobalamin is relatively stable but can be degraded by strong light, reducing agents and some other premix components such as vitamin C and certain trace minerals over long storage.
- Certificate of analysis (CoA) and lot traceability.
CTF Premix and vitamin B12
Vitamin B12 can be included in CTF Premix's vitamin premixes, vitamin-mineral premixes and custom premixes according to the customer's formulation; for ruminant programmes cobalt can also be covered in the mineral premix. Production takes place at our Ankara facility under ISO 9001:2015 and GMP, with lot traceability and a certificate of analysis for every batch.
This page is for general information. Inclusion rates and product choice should be decided with a nutritionist, taking into account the species, the feed formulation and the applicable regulations.