EFFECT OF SUPPLEMENTARY BIOTIN ON THE REPRODUCTIVE-PERFORMANCE, BODY CONDITION AND FOOT HEALTH OF SOWS ON 3 FARMS

A total of 359 sows and 146 gilts on three farms were given either their normal commercial diets or the same diets supplemented with 500-mu-g of biotin/kg of diet over a 15 month period. The diets were based on wheat and meat-and-bone meal. There was no effect of the biotin supplement on the size of litters born or weaned or the number of days between weaning and conception. The body condition of sows during lactation, and in the period from weaning to re-mating, was improved by the biotin supplement. After 12 months, the biotin supplement had reduced the proportion of sows with foot lesions from 55 to 42%.