Impacts of supplemental dietary biotin on lameness in sheep

A 12-month study was conducted to evaluate effects of biotin supplementation on lameness in sheep. Thirty non-lactating Chios ewes with existing lameness and physical appearance of hoof lesions (i.e., sole ulcer, sole hemorrhage, and heel erosion) were assigned to one of three treatment groups and fed 0.21 mg, 3.26 mg and 5.25 mg/day of biotin, respectively, with the diet. The hooves of all ewes were visually assessed every 4th week and hoof lesion score and locomotion score were recorded. Results demonstrate that hoof disorders in sheep are responsive to biotin supplementation, and that continuous biotin supplementation at 3.26 mg/day of biotin caused some healing of hoof lesions after 7 months but, at the end of the experiment, lesions were still present. However at 5.25 mg/day, hoof lesions healed within 7 months (with the healing being evident within 4 months) and improved locomotion. Biotin supplementation improved hoof health in sheep, thereby reducing incidences of lameness.