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

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Abstract
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 gills (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 < 0.001). In the young replacement stock a reduction of the claw lesion score by 52% (p<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: An increase of the biotin content of Dutch pig feeds and regular monitoring of its biotin content would appear to be advisable.