Supplemental Biotin for Swine. III. Influence of Supplementation to Corn- and Wheat-Based Diets on the Incidence and Severity of Toe Lesions, Hair and Skin Characteristics and Structural Soundness of Sows Housed in Confinement during Four Parities

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Abstract
The influence of supplementing 0 (NB) or 440 (SB) µg biotin/kg to corn- or wheat-based diets on toe lesions, hair characteristics and structural soundness in 116 crossbred female swine was studied from selection (100 kg) until completion of four parities. Gilts that had been previously fed corn-soybean meal diets with 0 or 220 µg supplemental biotin/kg diet during growth and development, remained on either the biotin unsupplemented or supplemented diet. Females were housed in buildings containing partially slatted and solid concrete floors. Toe, hair and soundness evaluations were made at a mean age of 240, 521, 732, 916 and 1,090 d. Type of grain fed did not influence (P>.10) any response criteria evaluated. Six types of toe lesions were observed across all dietary treatments and varied in severity from minor to very severe. The percentage of females with heel cracks, heel-horn junction cracks and side-wall horn cracks was reduced (P<.01) when females were fed SB diets. Females fed SB diets had fewer (P<.001) total lesions, heel cracks, heel-horn junction cracks, side-wall horn cracks and white-line horn cracks (P<.03) compared with females consuming NB diets. In general, biotin supplementation was more effective in reducing the number and percentage of toe lesions in multiparous sows compared with gilts and primiparous sows. Biotin supplementation increased (P<.001) the number of hairs/cm2 skin and improved (P<.001) hair scores. Histological evaluation and soundness scores were not affected (P>.10) by level of biotin fed. Soundness scores were positively correlated with number of heel cracks/female (P<.05) and hair score (P<.01); however, the coefficients were low. These results indicate that foot health and hair coats of sows housed in confinement can be improved by supplementation of 440 µg biotin/kg diet to corn- and wheat-based diets. Copyright © 1985. American Society of Animal Science . Copyright 1985 by American Society of Animal Science

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