Effect of supplemental dietary biotin on performance of lactating ewes

Seventy-two lactating Chios ewes were used in two experiments to determine effects of supplemental dietary biotin on productivity and milk composition. The first experiment started after weaning on day 42 postpartum, and lasted 20 weeks, while the second started on week 24 postpartum and lasted 12 weeks. In both experiments, ewes were allocated, after equal distribution relative to milk yield, body weight, time of lambing, and lactation number (i.e., two or three), into three groups of 24 ewes each, and were accommodated in three floor pens/groups of eight ewes/treatment. Ewes were fed one of three diets varying in supplemental biotin (BIOTIN0, no supplemental biotin; BIOTIN3, 3 mg supplemental biotin/ewe/day; BIOTIN5, 5 mg supplemental biotin/ewe/day) in each experiment. Milk, fat, protein, lactose and ash yield, and milk fat content increased linearly (P<0.012) with increased dietary biotin in both studies. Dietary biotin supplementation improved the productive performance of these lactating ewes at both an early and late stage of lactation.