58th Annual Meeting of the EAAP, 26-29 August 2007, Dublin, Ireland, Session 32, abstract 1753, monique.vanoeckel@ilvo.vlaanderen.be The effect of extra biotin in the lactation diet of sows on litter weight gain M.J. Van Oeckel, S. Millet, M. De Paepe, D.L. De Brabander ILVO - Animal Sciences, Belgium 1
Introduction - Biotin H 2 O soluble B-vitamin (vitamin H) essential co-factor in # metabolic pathways (CH, proteins, fat) important role in gluconeogenese in liver microbially produced in gut: not sufficient availability in feedstuffs is variable & low 2
Introduction Biotin deficiency Hair losses Skin lesions Cracking/lesions of footpads & hooves Slow growth Impaired reproductive performance 3
Introduction Biotin requirements NRC standards (1998): no requirements given because of inconsistent results In general practice: 0.2 to 0.3 ppm biotin added to sow diets 4
Introduction Biotin levels above the use of 0.3 ppm Hypothesis: Extra biotin in sow lactation diets stimulates glucose and consequently milk production Daily gain of the litter 5
Objective To compare a control lactation diet: 0.3 ppm biotin vs. a test lactation diet: 0.3 ppm + 2 ppm biotin 5-10 days before farrowing until weaning Daily gain of the litter: 0 to 4 wks age 6
Material & methods 4 series of on av. 17 hybrid sows: 68 sows When entering farrowing unit: 2 treatment groups formed based on parity number, previous results and condition. Control diet vs. test diet (+ 2 ppm biotin) Standardisation of litter size (to 10-12 piglets) Creep feed from 1 week after birth 7
Litter size at birth after standardisation of litter size 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0 10.9 vs. 11.2 Total S1 S2 S3 S4 Control Biotin 8
Parameters: Material & methods - Weight & fatness of sows at start & weaning - Number of piglets per litter at birth and weaning and mortality % - Weight piglets at birth, death and weaning - Feed intake sows, creep feed intake piglets - Health problems and medical treatments 9
Material & methods Estimation of milk production per sow litter weight gain BUT piglets who lost weight & outliers were omitted Correction to suckling period of 28 days 10
Results: Feed intake sows 6 5 4 kg/day 3 2 5.2 kg/day Control Biotin 1 0 Total S1 S2 S3 S4 11
Results: Weight loss of sows 45 40 35 30 kg 25 20 33 vs. 36 kg 15 10 5 Control Biotin 0 Total S1 S2 S3 S4 12
Results: P2 loss of sows 4,5 4,0 3,5 3,0 mm 2,5 2,0 Control Biotin 1,5 2.3 1,0 vs. 3.2 mm 0,5 0,0 Total S1 S2 S3 S4 13
Results: # piglets weaned/litter 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 9.6 vs. 10.1 4 3 2 1 0 Total S1 S2 S3 S4 Control Biotin 14
Results: % piglet mortality between birth and weaning % mortality 20 a 18 16 14 12 10 b 8 6 4 12 vs. 10% 2 0 Total S1 S2 S3 S4 Control Biotin Mortality at younger stage for biotin vs. control group 15
Results: piglet daily gain 250 200 g/day 150 100 220 g/day Control Biotin 50 0 Total S1 S2 S3 S4 Daily creep feed intake 5 g/piglet, not affected by biotin 16
Results: Litter weight gain for 28 suckling days, corrected for outliers 76 74 +1.0% kg per sow 72 70 68 66 +4.5% +1.9% +5.1% +10.3% Control Biotin 64 66 vs. 69 kg 62 60 Total S1 S2 S3 S4 17
Conclusions No sign. effects of extra 2 ppm biotin in sow lactation diet but limited nr. of sows involved Indications for = feed intake, but weight and P2 losses = piglet weight gain, but diarrhoea & mortality litter weight gain by milk production more effect for uni- vs. multipareous sows A 4.5% litter weight gain improvement is similar as earlier found for high productive cows 18
Thanks to DSM Nutritional Products 19