Effect of supplementary dietary biotin on hoof growth and hoof growth rate in ponies: a controlled trial.

The study investigates how biotin, a dietary supplement, can stimulate hoof growth in ponies. Results show that animals with a biotin-enriched diet had more significant hoof growth and growth rate than those without a biotin supplement in their diet, particularly in the central part of the hoof capsule.

Objective of the Study

• The research aimed to explore the impact of dietary biotin supplementation on the hoof growth and growth rate in ponies.
• The study implemented a controlled feeding trial using a dose rate of 0.12 mg/kg body weight (bwt). This is to provide a valid comparison between the hooves of the ponies that received biotin and those that did not.

Experimental Method and Findings

• In the experiment, eight match-paired ponies were used. Half of them received biotin. The other half did not. These pairings helped reduce variations caused by individual differences.
• After five months, the ponies subject to biotin supplementation showed a mean hoof growth at the midline dead center of the hoof capsule of 35.34mm. The control group, ponies without biotin, had an average of 30.69mm.
• Statistical analysis revealed that the result was significant (P < 0.05), meaning biotin made a notable difference to hoof growth.
• According to regression analysis, biotin supplementation also resulted in a significantly faster hoof horn growth rate (P < 0.02).
• The treated group had a 15% higher hoof horn growth rate and 15% more hoof growth at the midline dead center after the five-month biotin supplementation than the control group.

Differences Between the Animals

• The study did not find any significant differences in the hoof horn growth between the feet of the ponies. This uniformity suggests that biotin affects all hooves equally.
• However, the older animals in the experiment displayed statistically lower hoof growth (P < 0.05) compared to the other ponies. This finding indicates that age may play a role in hoof growth irrespective of biotin supplementation.