Effect of dietary biotin supplement on equine hoof horn growth rate and hardness.

This research study explored the effects of adding biotin to a horse’s diet on the growth rate and hardness of their hooves. Findings indicate that biotin supplements can enhance both growth and hardness, with greater results achieved with higher daily doses.

The Experiment Setup

• The research included a 10-month experiment involving 24 randomly selected riding horses.
• Various amounts of biotin, a type of B-vitamin, were added to the diet of each horse to test its impact on the growth and hardness of their hooves. There were two main supplement levels used – 7.5mg and 15mg daily doses.

The Results of the Study

• The results provide strong evidence that biotin supplements can improve hoof growth rates and hardness in horses.
• The work showed that higher daily doses of biotin caused more significant improvements in both areas, indicating a dose-dependent effect of the supplement.
• The study also found that the increased hardness effect from biotin was most significant at specific parts of the hoof – the quarters and toe.

Additional Findings

• Interestingly, the study also found that intermittent feeding of biotin did not cause any ring formation in the hooves of the horses.
• This could suggest that biotin can be fed in an alternating manner without disruptions or adverse changes to the normal growth patterns of the hooves. This finding potentially brings flexibility to the management of the nutritional supplement in equine diet plans.

In conclusion, the study sheds new light on the potential benefits of dietary biotin supplementation in horses in terms of promoting hoof growth and hardness. These findings can play a vital role in equine health management.