Foot rot of pigs: the influence of biotin supplementation on foot lesions in sows

Hoof horn abnormalities in Lipizzaner horses and the effect of dietary biotin on macroscopic aspects of hoof horn quality

This study involved a macroscopic evaluation of hoof quality in 152 Lipizzaner horses (130 from Austria and 22 from other countries) and a controlled double blind trial of the effects of biotin on hoof horn growth and quality over 19 months in 42 stallions from the Spanish Riding School (SRS) in Vienna. Using a grading system that incorporated evaluation of horn wall, white line, sole and frog, the macroscopic study revealed the following: 90% of the Austrian Lipizzaners had soft white lines and crumbling, fissured horn at the bearing border of the walls; 39% of the stallions of the SRS, > 4-years-old, had medium to severe hoof horn changes. Daily administration of 20 mg biotin to a test group of horses (n = 26) and a placebo to a control group (n = 16) showed that after 9 months the test group had significantly improved compared to the beginning of the trial and the placebo group (P < 0.01). In the test group, further improvement was observed during the following 5 months and, subsequently, the same good level of hoof condition was maintained over 3 further years of observation. Growth rate of the horn wall was equal in the biotin and placebo group, being 7 mm/28 days, giving a wall renewal period of 11 months. Mean plasma biotin level of untreated horses was 350 ng/l; plasma levels of biotin supplemented horses were > 1000 ng/l. It was concluded that continuous dietary supplementation with biotin at a daily dose of 20 mg is indicated to improve and maintain hoof horn quality in horses with less than optimum quality hoof.

Biotin in swine nutrition

For many years, it was believed that supplemental biotin was not needed in swine diets because of the wide distribution of biotin in feedstuffs used in the formulation of swine diets, and because of the known synthesis of biotin by the animal's intestinal microflora. However, interest in biotin nutrition for swine was rekindled in the mid-1970s when several field reports indicated a biotin deficiency in swine that was responsive to biotin supplementation in many cases. Results from university research are accumulating, especially from long-term sow studies (three to four parities), which suggest that supplemental biotin will improve litter size, conception rate, weaning-to-estrus interval, toe lesions, and haircoat condition. Milk biotin concentration and plasma biotin concentration of sows and piglets were also elevated when supplemental biotin was fed. Using presently available feedstuffs and under modern swine production conditions, a marginal biotin deficiency is possible. Swine producers experiencing poor reproductive performance in their sow herds, associated with excessive loss of hair and severe foot lesions, should evaluate the biotin content of their sow diet and consider supplemental biotin.

Field experience with d-biotin supplementation to gilt and sow feeds

At a pig breeding farm with 130 sows, the culling rate in respect of the young replacement stock was more than 50% and was in particular caused by lameness. The effect was investigated of d-biotin supplementation of the feed on culling percentage, reproduction, claw lesions and lameness of gilts (young replacement stock) and sows, and piglet mortality. The young pigs were divided into a group of 23 young replacement pigs aged 2.5 months (12 controls and 11 treated) and a group of 47 gilts aged 7 months (23 controls and 24 treated). Both treatment groups received feed supplemented with 1250 mcg/kg d-biotin. Furthermore, all sows received feed supplemented with 500 mcg/kg d-biotin. The basic feed contained 175 mcg/kg biotin, of which about 100 mcg/kg was biologically available biotin. Biotin supplementation resulted in an increase in the plasma biotin levels from the critical deficiency level of about 50 ng/100 ml to about 300 ng/100 ml in young replacement stock, to about 179 ng/100 ml in the gilts, and to about 123 ng/100 ml in the sows. After 2.5 months of biotin supplementation the claw lesion score of the gilts had decreased by 28% (p less than 0.001). In the young replacement stock a reduction of the claw lesion score by 52% (p less than 0.001) was found after 4 months supplementation. The effect of biotin supplementation was greatest in the soft heel region (improved by 35%) and somewhat less on the claw wall (improved by 23%). After 11 months' supplementation with 500 mcg/kg biotin the effects on production performance of the sows compared to the previous year can be summarized as follows: --the overall culling rate dropped from 54.0% tot 30.8%, --the culling rate due to lameness decreased by 11% from 25% to 14%, --the culling as a result of 'insufficient production' was reduced from 11% to 4%, --a positive trend in piglet mortality was observed (17.7% compared to 19.2%). An increase of the biotin content of Dutch pig feeds and regular monitoring of its biotin content would appear to be advisable.