Effect of supplementary dietary biotin on hoof growth and hoof growth rate in ponies: a controlled trial
J. D. REILLY
Department of Preclinical Veterinary Sciences, Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, The University of Edinburgh, Summerhall, Edinburgh EH9 1QH
Royal Army Veterinary Corps, UKSC(G) DASU, BFPO16.
Search for more papers by this authorD. F. COTTRELL
Department of Preclinical Veterinary Sciences, Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, The University of Edinburgh, Summerhall, Edinburgh EH9 1QH
Search for more papers by this authorR. J. MARTIN
Department of Preclinical Veterinary Sciences, Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, The University of Edinburgh, Summerhall, Edinburgh EH9 1QH
Search for more papers by this authorD. J. CUDDEFORD
Department of Veterinary Clinical Studies, Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, Veterinary Field Station, Easter Bush, Roslin, Midlothian EH25 9RG, Scotland, UK.
Search for more papers by this authorJ. D. REILLY
Department of Preclinical Veterinary Sciences, Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, The University of Edinburgh, Summerhall, Edinburgh EH9 1QH
Royal Army Veterinary Corps, UKSC(G) DASU, BFPO16.
Search for more papers by this authorD. F. COTTRELL
Department of Preclinical Veterinary Sciences, Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, The University of Edinburgh, Summerhall, Edinburgh EH9 1QH
Search for more papers by this authorR. J. MARTIN
Department of Preclinical Veterinary Sciences, Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, The University of Edinburgh, Summerhall, Edinburgh EH9 1QH
Search for more papers by this authorD. J. CUDDEFORD
Department of Veterinary Clinical Studies, Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, Veterinary Field Station, Easter Bush, Roslin, Midlothian EH25 9RG, Scotland, UK.
Search for more papers by this authorSummary
The effect of dietary biotin supplementation, at a dose rate of 0.12 mg/kg bwt, on growth and growth rate of the hooves of 8 match-paired ponies was investigated in a controlled feeding trial. Treatment animals had a mean hoof growth at the midline dead centre of the hoof capsule of 35.34 mm after 5 months of biotin supplementation compared to control animals 30.69 nun (P<0.05). Comparison of regression analysis also showed that biotin supplementation produced a significantly higher (P<0.02) growth rate of hoof horn in this trial. Treatment animals had a 15% higher growth rate of hoof horn and 15% more hoof growth at the midline dead centre, after 5 months of biotin supplementation compared to control ponies. No differences were found between feet for growth of horn, but the older animals in the trial had significantly lower hoof growth (P<0.05) than the remaining ponies.
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