Preliminary investigation on the effect of dietary supplemental biotin and palm kernel oil on blood, liver and kidney lipids in chicks.

A total of 480 day-old broiler chicks were used in two trials conducted to investigate the performance and lipid contents of blood, liver and kidneys of birds when fed varying levels of palm kernel oil (0% and 2%) and biotin (40, 80, 120, 160, 200 and 240 mcg/kg feed) in a 2 x 6 factorial experimental design. The results showed that blood, liver and kidney lipid concentrations were significantly affected by dietary biotin treatments. While total lipid, free fatty acid, triglyceride and cholesterol contents were negatively correlated with dietary biotin level, phospholipid concentrations were positively correlated. Biotin-deficient chicks had significantly higher total lipid, free fatty acid, triglyceride and cholesterol but lower phospholipid contents in their blood and the two organs. Supplementation of the diet with 2% palm kernel oil significantly elevated blood phospholipid concentration, but depressed the accumulation of the other lipid fractions in both organs and the blood of birds. Blood, liver and kidney cholesterol concentrations were not affected by 2% fat supplementation. Observation on the lipid parameters coupled with the results on feed utilisation appeared to suggest that a minimum of 120 mcg of the vitamin per kilogram of diet was required by broiler chicks for optimum performance.     

Severity of tenosynovitis in reovirus-infected chickens fed various dietary levels of choline, folic acid, manganese, biotin, or niacin

Five experiments were conducted to determine the incidence and severity of tenosynovitis in tendons distal to the tarsal joint in 4-, 6-, and 8-week-old reovirus WVU 2937-infected chickens fed diets containing 20%, 100%, or 200% of the 1977 National Research Council nutrient requirements (NCR-77) of manganese, biotin, niacin, choline, or folic acid. Male chickens, but not female chickens, fed 20% or 100% or the NRC-77 level of folic acid had consistently higher lesion scores of tenosynovitis than male chickens fed the 200% NRC-77 level of folic acid. Increasing dietary manganese levels from 20% to 200% NRC-77 reduced the severity of tendon swelling in 6- and 8-week-old male chickens and appeared to increase the severity of tendon swelling in 8-week-old female chickens. Male chickens fed 20% of the NRC-77 required level of biotin had numerically more severe tenosynovitis at 6 weeks of age and significantly more severe tenosynovitis at 8 weeks of age than male chickens fed 100% and 200% of the NRC-77 level of biotin. Increasing dietary choline levels from 20% to 200% of the NCR-77 required level increased the severity of tenosynovitis numerically at 6 weeks of age and significantly at 8 weeks of age. When data were pooled across diet, male chickens had significantly more severe tenosynovitis than female chickens at 4, 6, and 8 weeks of age in the choline experiment and at 4 and 6 weeks of age in the folic acid experiment. Differences in the severity of tenosynovitis of individual treatment means (sex X diet X infection interaction means) occurred at only the 20% or 100% NRC-77 level of choline or folic acid. Male chickens also had more severe tenosynovitis than female chickens when fed 20% of the NRC-77 required level of manganese for 6 or 8 weeks.     

不同生物素水平对北京鸭前期生长性能影响及后期缺乏症观察

选用体重相近的1日龄雄性北京鸭512只,随机分成8组,每组8个重复,每个重复8只鸭。研究不同生物素水平对1~14日龄北京鸭生长性能的影响,以及进行后期生物素缺乏症的观察。结果表明:提高日粮中生物素水平,1~14日龄北京鸭日采食量和日增重也随之提高(P<0.05),料重比没有改善(P<0.05)。以日增重为衡量指标,通过直线折线模型分析,初步确定生物素适宜添加水平为0.186 mg/kg。北京鸭生物素缺乏症病变依次表现:眼部>羽毛>腿部>肝脏,伴发脂肪肝肾综合症(FLKS)。     

Effect of biotin supplementation of a barley-wheat diet on restoration of healthy feet, legs and skin of biotin deficient sows

Sixteen sows with induced biotin deficiency were divided into groups of four and fed an egg-white-free barley-wheat based diet without added biotin (control) or supplemented with one of three levels of synthetic d-biotin (100, 200 or 400 micrograms kg-1) for two parities in order to determine the optimal level required to reverse symptoms of the deficiency and to evaluate the relationship among dietary biotin levels, stage of recovery and serum biotin concentrations. Biotin supplementation significantly reduced (P less than 0.05) the incidence of lesions (on the foot pads, above the dew claws and on the skin) and also dry skin, but had no effect (P greater than 0.05) on hoof cracks, hair score or hair density. Time after supplementation had significant effects on reversal of most biotin deficiency symptoms. Interactions between biotin supplementation and time after supplementation suggested that these symptoms were reversed more quickly when higher levels of biotin were fed. Serum biotin concentrations of biotin-supplemented sows were increased with time and exceeded 600 ng litre-1 after 0.5, 1.0 and 1.5 months following biotin supplementation of the basal diet with 400, 200 and 100 micrograms kg-1. In contrast, serum biotin concentrations of the control sows remained low and peaked at 411 ng litre-1 after 2.5 months. The data suggested that supplementation of a barley-wheat diet to provide 147 to 217 micrograms available biotin kg-1 might be adequate to restore healthy feet, legs and skin and concurrently maintain high serum biotin concentrations.     

Biotin in swine production: A review

Biotin, an essential water-soluble vitamin, is a cofactor of a number of enzyme systems responsible for carboxylation and transcarboxylation reactions. These reactions play a major role in the metabolism of carbohydrates and nucleic acids, in the synthesis of fatty acids, proteins and purines, and in the deamination of amino acids. In the past, it was believed that supplemental biotin was not required in swine diets because of its wide distribution in feedstuffs generally used in the formulation of swine diets, and its known synthesis by the pig's intestinal microflora. Interest in biotin nutrition for swine, however, was rekindled when several field reports in the mid-1970s described disease conditions similar to those reported for experimentally induced biotin deficiencies (poor growth in young pigs, low plasma biotin levels, alopecia and pustule formation in the skin and lesions of the hoof and sole of the toes). These conditions were reported to be responsive to biotin supplementation in many cases, but control treatments were usually not included so that definitive conclusions could not be made. Results from properly controlled research are now available, especially from long-term sow studies (three to four parities), which suggest that supplemental biotin may improve one or more of the following: poor litter size, conception rate or weaning to estrus interval, toe lesions and poor haircoat condition. Milk biotin concentration and plasma biotin concentration of sows and piglets were reported to be elevated when supplemental biotin was fed. The amount of biotin in feedstuffs varies from 20 to 2600 parts per billion (p.p.b.), but availability values have not been determined for pigs, although chick bioavailability values suggest that biotin in commonly used grain and protein sources is poorly available. Numerous environmental and nutritional factors may influence the occurrence of a biotin deficiency in swine or alter the level of biotin required in the diet to meet the animal's needs. Using presently available feedstuffs and under modern swine production conditions, a marginal biotin deficiency is possible. There are, however, many unanswered questions and a need for more research to better understand the role of biotin in swine nutrition. Swine producers experiencing poor reproductive performance in their sow herds, associated with excessive loss of hair and severe foot lesions, should evaluate the biotin content of their sow diet and consider supplemental biotin.     

Plasma concentration of some vitamins in greyhounds

Plasma concentrations of ascorbic acid, (3-carotene, retinol and a-tocopheral were determined in four groups of racing greyhounds. Plasma biotin was measured in two groups. Mean concentrations were 5-3 mg/litre ascorbic acid, 877|xg/litre retinol, 10-4 mg/litre a-tocopherol and 451 ng/litre biotin. In all dogs (3-carotene was below the level of detection, ie, 20 μg/litre. Differences in plasma vitamin concentrations between groups were found.     

Effects of biotin on growth performance and foot pad dermatitis of starter White Pekin ducklings

1. An experiment with 9 dietary supplemental biotin concentrations (0, 0·03, 0·06, 0·09, 0·12, 0·15, 0·18, 0·21, 1·5?mg biotin/kg) was conducted to study the effects of supplementary dietary biotin on growth performance and foot pad dermatitis (FPD) of White Pekin ducklings from hatch to 21?d of age.

2. One-d-old male Pekin ducklings (n?=?576) were randomly divided into 9 dietary treatments, each containing 8 replicate pens with 8 birds per pen. Final weight, feed intake and body weight gain increased with increasing dietary biotin levels from hatch to 21?d of age. No differences were observed in feed conversion ratio.

3. The supplemental biotin requirement of ducklings for optimal body weight gain was estimated to be 0.180?mg/kg.

4. At 28?d of age, dehydration, cracks, bleeding and scab, and ulceration were observed in biotin-deficient ducks. The external scores for FPD decreased from 17·50 to 1·00 with increasing dietary biotin. It was concluded that supplemental dietary biotin should not be less than 0·21?mg/kg to minimise the incidence of FPD.     

Effects of biotin supplementation on serum biotin levels and physical properties of samples of solar horn of Holstein cows

Effects of dietary biotin supplementation on serum biotin levels and physical properties of sole horn of 40 Holstein cows were evaluated. The mean serum biotin level in biotin-supplemented cows after 10 mo of biotin supplementation (1163.2 +/- 76.2 pg/mL) was significantly higher (P = 0.007) than that in control cows (382.0 +/- 76.2 pg/mL). The sole horn of biotin-supplemented cows was significantly harder (P = 0.026) and had a significantly lower moisture content (P = 0.021) than that of control cows. No morphologic differences in horn tubules or intertubular horn were found between the biotin-supplemented and control cows. The total lipid content of sole horn was significantly higher (P = 0.030) in the biotin-supplemented cows than in the control cows. These results suggest that dietary biotin supplementation causes increases in serum biotin levels and changes in physical properties and fat content of sole horn.     

Supplemental biotin for swine. I. Influence on feedlot performance, plasma biotin and toe lesions in developing gilts

Three trials, utilizing a total of 240 crossbred gilts, were conducted to study the influence of 0 (NB) or 220 (SB) microgram supplemental biotin/kg of diet on feedlot performance, plasma biotin and development of toe lesions in developing gilts. Corn-soybean meal diets were fed from weaning to 92 kg body weight. Gilts were housed on expanded-metal floors to 50 kg body weight and on partially slatted concrete floors until completion of the trials. Feedlot performance, hair and structural soundness scores were not different (P greater than .10) between NB and SB gilts. Plasma biotin (PB) levels were elevated (P less than .01) when supplemental biotin was included in the diet. Gilts consuming SB diets had fewer (P less than .01) toe lesions/gilt and lower (P less than .01) toe lesion severity scores/gilt compared with gilts fed NB diets. Heel-horn erosion and heel cracks were the most frequent toe lesions observed. Fewer gilts (P less than .01) developed side-wall toe cracks when fed SB diets. Supplemental biotin reduced the frequency of individual toes containing heel-horn erosion (P less than .10), heel cracks (P less than .05) and side-wall toe cracks (P less than .05) with the severity of these lesions not affected (P greater than .10) by supplemental biotin. These results suggest that biotin levels in corn-soybean meal diets are adequate for feedlot performance, and that supplemental biotin can improve hoof integrity, but will not prevent toe lesions.     

Involvement of biotin in the fatty liver and kidney syndrome of broilers

Experiments were conducted with caged broilers using diets containing 79% wheat and 20% meat meal. In the first experiment an outbreak of fatty liver and kidney syndrome (FLKS) occurred. Mortality was prevented, and subsequent growth rate was improved, by a single oral dose of a mixture of water‐soluble vitamins. A similar but less concentrated mixture successfully controlled a field outbreak of FLKS and lowered overall mortality.

In further experiments, it was shown that a deficiency of biotin was the main contributing factor in causing FLKS. With these wheat‐meat meal diets biotin concentrations of up to 120 μg/kg diet were associated with FLKS mortality but when the biotin concentration was raised to 145 μg/kg diet growth was maximised and mortality due to FLKS eliminated. There was also evidence that the concentration of biotin levels in breeder diets may affect the incidence of FLKS in their progeny.     

The effects of dietary biotin supplementation on vertical fissures of the claw wall in beef cattle

A clinical field trial was performed on a herd of Hereford beef cows in central Saskatchewan. The herd had a history of being severely affected with vertical fissures. The objective of the study was to determine the effects of supplemental dietary biotin on the prevalence of vertical fissures in beef cows. In June 1994 and June 1995, 1- and 2-year-old heifers were randomly allocated into 2 treatment groups, each composed of 79 animals. One group received a 10 mg/head/day biotin-supplemented free-choice mineral supplement, while the other groups received an identical free-choice mineral without the biotin supplementation. The claws from these animals were evaluated in June 1994, October 1994, June 1995, October 1995, and June 1996 for the presence of vertical fissures. Supplemental dietary biotin significantly increased serum levels of biotin and significantly increased claw hardness in supplemented cows. Both groups of heifers started the trial without vertical fissures. After 18 months, 15% of the cows fed supplemental dietary biotin had vertical fissures compared with 33% in the nonsupplemented group. The difference was statistically significant (P = 0.01).     

Influences of increased levels of biotin, zinc or mannan-oligosaccharides in the diet on foot pad dermatitis in growing turkeys housed on dry and wet litter

Foot pad dermatitis (FPD) is very common in turkeys and it is an animal health and welfare issue affecting not only performance and walking ability but also the carcass quality. Thus, there is a great need to find out the preventive measures against this problem. The potential roles of extra dietary biotin, Zn and mannan-oligosaccharides (MOS) in preventing the development of FPD were assessed in this study which was conducted on 2-week-old female turkeys over a period of 4 weeks. The birds were allotted to four groups, with 29 each, and housed on dry wood shavings in floor pens. The turkeys were fed a control (300 μg biotin and 50 mg Zn/kg), high biotin (2000 μg/kg), high Zn (150 mg/kg) or MOS (1%) diet. Half of the turkeys in each group were additionally exposed to wet litter (27% DM) for 8 h daily in adjacent separate boxes. Foot pads of the birds were examined on days 0, 7, 14, 21 and 28 and assessed macroscopically and histopathologically for foot pad lesions. High dietary levels of biotin or Zn significantly reduced the severity of FPD on dry litter (score 1 vs. 2 in control) but not on wet litter. However, MOS did not affect the severity of foot pad lesions either on dry or wet litter. In addition, the severity was overall substantially higher on wet (approximately three times) than on dry litter. The present results suggest that adding high levels of biotin or Zn to the diet could reduce the development and severity of FPD on dry litter but without having any preventive effects on wet litter. Finally, the high litter moisture appears to be the major factor resulting in FPD. Therefore, the litter should be maintained dry to minimize the prevalence and severity of FPD in turkeys.     

生物素对产蛋高峰期蛋鸭产蛋性能、蛋品质、血液生化指标、卵巢发育及胫骨性状的影响

【目的】本研究旨在探讨生物素在蛋鸭生产中的应用效果及对蛋鸭卵巢发育和胫骨性状的影响。【方法】采用单因素完全随机试验设计,将432羽健康、处于产蛋高峰期的福建龙岩山麻鸭随机分为6个处理,每个处理6个重复,每个重复12羽。采用小麦-豆粕型基础饲粮,生物素添加水平分别为0、0.05、0.10、0.15、0.20、0.25 mg/kg,试验期12周。于第12周,每个重复随机选取4枚蛋,以及2只试验鸭进行采血、屠宰取样,检测蛋品质、血液生化指标及卵巢发育和胫骨性状指标。【结果】(1)饲粮生物素添加水平对产蛋性能影响不显著(P>0.05)。(2)饲粮生物素添加水平为0.10 mg/kg时,蛋黄重量最低,显著低于0.05和0.20 mg/kg添加组(P<0.05);随饲粮生物素添加水平升高,蛋黄中胆固醇(CHO)含量呈现升高趋势(P<0.05)。与对照组相比,生物素添加水平为0.25 mg/kg时,蛋黄中丙二醛(MDA)含量显著下降(P<0.05)。(3)饲粮生物素添加水平对蛋鸭血浆生化指标、卵巢发育指标及胫骨发育指标均无显著影响(P>0.05)。【结论】饲粮中添加不同...     

Supplemental biotin for swine. II. Influence of supplementation to corn- and wheat-based diets on reproductive performance and various biochemical criteria of sows during four parities

Data from 116 females previously fed a corn-soybean basal diet with 0 or 220 micrograms supplemental biotin/kg during growth and development were used to study the influence of 0 (NB) or 440 (SB) micrograms of supplemental biotin/kg to corn-(C) or wheat-(W) based diets for gilts and sows housed in total confinement. Reproductive performance through four parities (total of 245 litters) and various sow and pig biochemical criteria were evaluated. Females fed W diets were older (P less than .07) at first estrus, farrowed litters that were lighter weight (P less than .01) at birth and that contained fewer (P less than .05) total and live pigs compared with females fed C diets. Biotin supplementation did not significantly influence (P greater than .10) farrowing and lactation performance; however, after the first parity, total and live pigs/litter at farrowing tended to be larger for SB females. Conception rate at first estrus postpartum was increased (P less than .07) by 9% and the average weaning to estrus interval was reduced (P less than .05) from 14.5 to 10.2 d with SB. Biotin supplementation increased (P less than .001) the biotin content of sow plasma, milk and liver, while sow liver pyruvate carboxylase activity was not altered (P greater than .10). Pigs farrowed by SB females had three- and fivefold higher (P less than .001) levels of plasma biotin at birth and 14 d of age, respectively; however, liver biotin levels at birth were not different (P greater than .10) for pigs from NB and SB females.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

The relationship between serum biotin and oxidant/antioxidant activities in bovine lameness

Serum biotin concentrations, erythrocyte superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), reduced glutathione (GSH) and plasma thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) were measured in 36 dairy cows, 18 of them were healthy and served as control. In the 18 cows with lameness problems, there were 5 cows with interdigital necrobacillosis, 5 cows with subsolar abscessation, 2 cows with solar ulcers, 2 cows with white line disease, 2 cows with chronic laminitis and 2 cows with septic arthritis. The degree of lameness was estimated to be slight in 3 cows, moderate in 11 cows and severe in 4 cows. Plasma fibrinogen levels and TBARS concentrations were increased significantly (P≤0.05) in lame cows compared to control group. The antioxidant enzymes GSH-Px, and CAT concentrations were increased significantly (P≤0.05) in lame cows. The level of reduced glutathione and the activity of SOD were significantly decreased in affected cows compared to healthy ones. Serum biotin levels in healthy cows ranged from 2.25 to 3.5ng/ml while in lame cows, biotin levels ranged from 1.17 to 2.3ng/ml. Biotin levels correlated positively with blood GSH (r=0.870, P≤0.05), (r=0.735, P≤0.05) and with GSH-Px (r=0.539, P≤0.05), (r=0.637, P≤0.05) and with SOD (r=0.637, P≤0.05), (r=0.449, P≤0.05) and with catalase (r=0.533, P≤0.05), (r=0.585, P≤0.05) in both healthy and lameness affected subjects, respectively.     

微生物法测定婴幼儿配方乳粉中的生物素、叶酸和VB12

目的:采用微生物法测定婴幼儿配方乳粉中生物素、叶酸和VB12.方法:利用不同乳酸菌对特定维生素具有敏感性的特点,通过测定菌株的生长变化来反映样品中相应微生物的维生素含量,对市售的13种婴幼儿配方乳粉维生素进行测定.结果:微生物法对于生物素和VB12测定数据更稳定,重复性好,生物素相对标准偏差为0.056％～4.158％,VB12的相对标准偏差范围为0.112％～3.848％,而叶酸的检测数据之间波动稍大,相对标准偏差为1.236％～8.332％.结论:本法适合婴幼儿配方乳粉中生物素、叶酸和VB12这3种维生素的分析定量研究.     

Aspects of lipid and carbohydrate metabolism, dietary biotin and fatty liver and kidney syndrome in broilers.

Two experiments were performed to investigate the biochemical changes associated with FLKS. A diet reported to induce FLKS was fed with or without supplementary biotin to broilers. In experiment 1 various stresses were applied to the birds. 2. In experiment 1 mortality from FLKS was 6% and in experiment 2 nil. Stress had little effect on the induction of the syndrome. 3. There were no significant differences due to diet in any of the variables examined in apparently normal birds. 4. Birds affected by FLKS showed the typical changes of increased liver and kidney weights and lipid contents but hepatic enzyme activities did not differ significantly from those of normal birds except that malate dehydrogenase (decarboxylating) (NADP) activity was significantly decreased. 5. Despite the low content of biotin in the unsupplemented diet (57 mug/kg) liver biotin content was not low in birds fed on this diet. 6. The results suggest that the incidence of FLKS is not related solely to dietary biotin content.     

Development of a system for clinical evaluation of the biotin status of sows

Sixteen test gilts were fed an egg white-fortified practical diet and four control gilts an egg white-free diet over a two-parity period in order to monitor changes in the serum biotin levels as induced biotin deficiency progressed. Gilts were individually housed in metal crates with slatted floors. Serum biotin (ng/L) of test animals declined from 1490 (initially) to 610 (month 3), remained stable (months 4-8) and thereafter approached 400, 135 and 30 after months 9, 13 and 15, respectively. Early clinical symptoms, i.e. lesions (on the feet, legs and skin), hoof cracks, hair loss and dry skin, were first observed after six months and became progressively more pronounced with time. After nine months, the induced symptoms resembled those characteristic of biotin deficiency. In contrast, serum biotin remained high in the control animals which did not develop symptoms. The data are interpreted to mean that serum biotin might be used as a sensitive index of biotin deficiency development in sows. On the basis of these observations, a system is proposed for evaluation of the sow's biotin status. Adequate biotin may be indicated by serum biotin level (ng/L) > 700; marginal, > 600 < 700; inadequate, > 400 < 600; and deficient, < 400. Alternatively, several concurrent clinical symptoms (i.e. alopecia, hoof cracks and lesions on the feet, legs and skin) may aid in the diagnosis of inadequate biotin status of sow herds reared under field conditions.     

Effect of reovirus infection and dietary levels of selected vitamins on immunocompetence of chickens

The immunocompetence of 8-week-old reovirus WVU 2937-infected and uninfected chickens fed various dietary levels of biotin, niacin, choline, or folic acid was evaluated in four experiments. Antibody production to sheep red blood cells (SRBC), wattle responses to phytohemagglutinin-P (PHA-P), and wattle responses of tuberculin-sensitized chickens to bovine-purified protein derivative (PPD) were examined in five chickens per treatment. Dietary deficiencies had no effect on the in vivo T-cell immune responses to PPD, PHA-P, or humoral hemagglutinating-antibody production to SRBC. Reovirus-infected and uninfected chickens fed biotin at double the National Research Council (1977) requirement demonstrated decreased PPD responses. Lower hemagglutinating-antibody titers in the uninfected chickens and increased titers in the infected chickens were observed in those fed 200% of the requirement of biotin when compared with the chickens fed 20% and 100% biotin diets. Reovirus infection had no effect on PPD and PHA-P responses. However, in the choline experiment, reovirus-infected chickens had elevated titers. These data indicate that reovirus infection had no adverse effect on the immunocompetence of chickens 8 weeks postinfection. Dietary deficiencies also had no adverse effect on the immunocompetence of 8-week-old reovirus-infected and uninfected chickens.     

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

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: - the overall culling rate dropped from 54.0% tot 30.8%,

- the culling rate due to lameness decreased by 11% from 25% to 14%,

- the culling as a result of ‘insufficient production’ was reduced from 11% to 4%,

- a positive trend in piglet mortality was observed (17.7% compared to 19.2%).

An increase of the biotin content of Dutch pig feeds and regular monitoring of its biotin content would appear to be advisable.