Supplementary biotin for sows: effect on reproductive characteristics
Simmins, P.H.; Brooks, P.H.
Veterinary Record 112(18): 425-429
1983
ISSN/ISBN: 0042-4900 PMID: 6868304 Document Number: 220906
Eighty female pigs were fed from 25 kg live weight either basal diets calculated to provide 32 mu g available biotin/kg (control diet) or basal diets supplemented with 350 mu g biotin/kg. Reproductive performance was studied over four pregnancies. Sows receiving supplementary biotin returned to oestrus 2.9 plus or minus 1.7 and conceived 6.1 plus or minus 1.4 days sooner than controls. Of those sows receiving supplementary biotin, more returned to oestrus and conceived within 10 days of weaning (83.2% versus, 74.6% and 80.6% versus 71.8%, resp.) and fewer were treated for anoestrus (7.3% versus 17%) than those on the control diet. Supplementing diets increased the annual productivity of sows completing four pregnancies by 1.42 plus or minus 1.02 pigs/sow/year and increased the total weight of weaner produced/sow/year by 17.3 plus or minus 7.4 kg. It was concluded that the majority of commercial dietary formulations would require supplementation with biotin in order that sows may express their full reproductive potential.