Untersuchungen zur Wirkung von Biotin auf die Klauenhornqualität ...

8. SUMMARY
Michaela Timmer:
Research on the influence of biotin on the claw horn quality of growing pigs
The influence of biotin on the claw horn quality of growing pigs was examined in a basis
breeding plant of a German breeding organization. In the course of this experiment, during
the period of one year, the complete number of feed used in the plant was mixed with biotin
to a concentration rate of 2000 µg per kg feed. In the beginning of the experiment, five groups
of sows with eight animals each were built. The sows of the single groups were each in the
same state of gestation. Farrowing took place gradually with time lags of approx. four weeks,
consequently different periods of time of intrauterine action of the biotin on the foetus re-
sulted. Before starting and in the further course of the experiment, the claws of the female
breed as well as of the sows were examined regularly under clinical-macroscopical aspects.
At the same time, the claw hardness degree was measured by means of different procedures
according to Shore. Additionally, milk, blood and feed samples were collected and their
biotin rate evaluated. Moreover, horn samples from the coronary and solear horn area of se-
lected young sows were examined histometrically.
The clinic-macroscopical examinations had as a result an improvement of the claw health
after starting the biotin supplementation. The most evident improvements compared with the
initial situation showed after the age-level 80th day of life. As concerns animals at an age of
160 days of life, in the course of the supplementation, longitudinal cracks in the horn wall of
the front and behind claws as well as coronary band lesions and bruising in the wall of the
behind claws were less visible. Moreover, at the outside claws, vertical wall cracks, lesions of
the white line, separations of the junction in the area of the heel-sole-border and erosions in
the heel horn were evident to a small extent. At the inside claws, erosions in the heel area
were less visible. Also the results of the clinical-macroscopical examination of the sows
showed an improvement of the claw health in the course of the biotin supplementation.
On the occasion of the clinical-macroscopical examination, lesions of the claws could already
be observed at the preweaning piglets.
In the case of the succeeding female breed, the measured horn hardness degree in the sole
area and partially also in the area of the lateral horn side increased after starting the biotin
159