Response of Sows and Litters to Added Dietary Biotin in Environmentally Regulated Facilities

The study, conducted over 3 years with 161 sows and 414 litters, evaluated the impact of adding .55 ppm biotin to a corn-soybean meal diet on sow and piglet performance. The results showed that while sow culling rates, weight gains, and pig weights at birth and weaning were similar between the biotin-supplemented and non-supplemented groups, sows receiving added biotin weaned more pigs per litter overall and during the first gestation-lactation period. However, biotin did not increase the number of pigs weaned in subsequent gestation-lactation periods. Additionally, biotin supplementation did not affect the incidence of dermatitis, hair loss, or the soundness of feet and legs. Overall, the addition of biotin improved the number of pigs weaned but did not enhance other measured criteria.