| HOME | HELP | FEEDBACK | SUBSCRIPTIONS | ARCHIVE | SEARCH | TABLE OF CONTENTS |
|
|
|
|||||||
|
|||||||||
1 Athmaize Producers Co-Operative Association Ltd., P.O. Box 19, Atherton Qld 4883 Australia
2 School of Land and Food. University of Queensland, St Lucia, Qld 4072 Australia
3 Roche Vitamins (Australia) Pty Ltd, P.O. Box 213, Goodna Qld 4300 Australia
4 F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd., Basle, Switzerland
In a double-blind study, the influence of biotin supplementation on lameness in dairy cows was investigated over a 13-mo period. The experimental site was a tropical upland environment and involved over 2705 Holstein and Friesian cows on 20 participating farms. Cows on 10 farms received biotin at a rate of 20 mg/head per day in the concentrate, and cows on 10 other farms received feed without the biotin supplement. Premixes with or without biotin were incorporated into a grain concentrate that was fed at a constant rate to cows at milking. Farmers maintained accurate records of the nature of hoof problems and any treatment applied.
Each herd was evaluated for locomotion scores at 8-wk intervals. Locomotion scores were significantly correlated with the number of days with measurable rainfall per month (r = 0.88). The biotin-supplemented herds exhibited better locomotion scores than the unsupplemented herds. In the wet summer period the number of lame cows, as observed by the farmer, were significantly fewer during the rainy period for the biotin-supplemented herds and required fewer antibiotic treatments than unsupplemented herds. Most hoof lesions were most commonly observed in the outer claws of the hind limb.
Daily milk production (17.3 vs. 18.5 L) was not affected by biotin supplementation. Reduced milk fat percentage and somatic cell counts of bulk milk were recorded in the biotin supplemented herds during the wet, summer period.
Key Words: biotin • hoof disorder • pasture-fed cows
Submitted on April 12, 1999
Accepted on September 22, 1999
This article has been cited by other articles:
|
|
 |
|
  G. Ferreira, W. P. Weiss, and L. B. Willett Changes in Measures of Biotin Status Do Not Reflect Milk Yield Responses When Dairy Cows Are Fed Supplemental Biotin J Dairy Sci, March 1, 2007; 90(3): 1452 - 1459. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
C. B. Tucker, D. M. Weary, and D. Fraser Influence of Neck-Rail Placement on Free-Stall Preference, Use, and Cleanliness J Dairy Sci, August 1, 2005; 88(8): 2730 - 2737. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
C. B. Tucker, D. M. Weary, and D. Fraser Free-Stall Dimensions: Effects on Preference and Stall Usage J Dairy Sci, May 1, 2004; 87(5): 1208 - 1216. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
D. J. Tomlinson, C. H. Mulling, and T. M. Fakler Invited Review: Formation of Keratins in the Bovine Claw: Roles of Hormones, Minerals, and Vitamins in Functional Claw Integrity J Dairy Sci, April 1, 2004; 87(4): 797 - 809. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
C. Bergsten, P. R. Greenough, J. M. Gay, W. M. Seymour, and C. C. Gay Effects of Biotin Supplementation on Performance and Claw Lesions on a Commercial Dairy Farm J Dairy Sci, December 1, 2003; 86(12): 3953 - 3962. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
C. J. Potzsch, V. J. Collis, R. W. Blowey, A. J. Packington, and L. E. Green The Impact of Parity and Duration of Biotin Supplementation on White Line Disease Lameness in Dairy Cattle J Dairy Sci, August 1, 2003; 86(8): 2577 - 2582. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
| HOME | HELP | FEEDBACK | SUBSCRIPTIONS | ARCHIVE | SEARCH | TABLE OF CONTENTS |
