Biotin (Vitamin H) for Dairy Cows

What it is
Biotin is one of the more recently discovered vitamins. It was first reported as coenzyme R in 1935 and its
chemical structure identified in 1942. Some research articles from the 1940s refer to biotin as vitamin B8 but
it is probably better known as vitamin H (H for hair, indicating where deficiencies are seen). For many years
it was assumed that feed contents were adequate to provide a cows requirements. Research during the past
decade has revealed the inadequacy of these supplies. It is now known to be an essential coenzyme in
several enzyme systems where it has a specific function in carboxylations (transfer of enzyme-bound CO2,
or CO2 fixation). Although most feed components contain biotin recent research has shown that a large
proportion is organically bound and biologically unavailable. Only very small quantities are required daily
but the amount which is biologically available is often insufficient to meet requirements without
supplementation.

What it does
The complete biochemical role of biotin is still not fully understood. In practical terms it is
essential for life, growth, food utilisation, maintenance of epidermal tissues, normal bone
development and reproduction. Two important enzyme functions which have been under
investigation are related, respectively, to gluconeogenesis and fatty acid synthesis. Pyruvate
carboxylase is a biotin-dependent enzyme in the gluconeogenesis pathway where it permits the
maintenance of normal blood sugar concentration by controlling the conversion of stored energy
into glucose. Then, in fatty acid synthesis, it controls the carboxylation of acetyl-coenzyme A to
malonyl-coenzyme A (acetyl CoA carboxylase is biotin-dependent). It also affects protein
synthesis through its influence on the nature and rate of formation of ribonucleic acid. This
seems particularly important in controlling the rate of production and deposition of
scleroproteins (hard proteins such as keratin). Thus biotin is involved, directly or indirectly,
with the metabolism of carbohydrates, fats and proteins.

If too much is given

There are no indications that even extremely large amounts of biotin can be toxic to dairy cows.
It is possible that supplies of 100 mg or more to young calves might restrict growth but it seems
that adults can tolerate a gram a day or more with no untoward effect because very little is stored
and the excretion mechanism through the kidneys is very efficient.

Biosynthesis
Synthesis of biotin in the lower end of the gastro-intestinal tract provides very little usable biotin.
No research has yet demonstrated any biotin absorption from the large intestine so any benefit
from this synthesis can only be from coprophagy (eating faeces).

How it is measured
It is very difficult to determine the biotin contents of feeds because the amounts are very small. It
is even more difficult to assess the biotin status of livestock. The amount in the liver has been
found to give a reasonable assessment of total body supplies while the amount circulating in
blood plasma can be a useful indication. Biotin in feeds and biological samples can only be
determined microbiologically.

Antagonists
Several substances are know which can antagonise or bind biotin. Certain proteins such as
avidin (found in egg albumen) completely inactivate biotin. Any egg product, including hatchery
waste, should be thoroughly processed to destroy avidin before use in feeds. Streptavidin, which
is present in streptomyces moulds in bedding and spoiled feed, can also bind biotin. There are
reports that the pesticide dieldrin can affect biotin availability in feeds. Peroxidising fats in feeds
have been shown to destroy biotin. It has also been demonstrated recently that aflatoxin may
increase metabolic biotin requirements; other mycotoxins may also interfere with biotin
absorption or otherwise increase the apparent biotin requirements.
Requirements and allowances
Until recently very little definitive research had been undertaken to determine actual
requirements because of the problems of estimating the amount of truly available biotin in the
feed. Some research was undertaken using avidin as a biotin-binder to remove any traces of feed
biotin so that responses to supplementary biotin could be measured. Unfortunately excesses of
avidin produced other problems which affected results.
Even now most published recommendations for the vitamin requirements of cows suggest that
they do not require biotin supplements. The situation is confused by research in the last 10 to 20
years showing that some cracked hoof conditions in dairy cows are biotin-responsive. These
lesions do not appear to be due to simple biotin deficiencies but larger than usual supplies
appear necessary to enable the cow to produce strong hoof horn and improve the foot condition.
Whereas the normal daily allowance of biotin for a cow is about 1-2 mg/day the amount
necessary to create the conditions for hoof repair appears to be about 15 mg/day. It

All quoted requirement and allowance figures relate to biologically available biotin and the actual
feed biotin content found by assay may be only partially available. The results of recent research
suggest that the levels of biologically available biotin in compound feedstuffs are too low and
feeds may require supplementation in order to ensure optimum health and performance.

Biotin Dose Rates for Adult Dairy Cows

Standard Rate 10 milligrams

High Rate 20 milligrams

Contents of feed ingredients

The total amounts of biotin (available and non-available) in feeds are very variable. Analytical
variations for microbiological assays of biotin (accuracy +20%) also increase the apparent
variations between samples

Feedstuff Biotin contents

g/ kg
Mean Range
Wheat 101 70-276
Barley 140 80-246
Oat 246 169-317
Maize 52 12-162
Sorghums 287 173-429
Rice 23 9-52
Maize gluten feed 139 48-281
Soya been meal 270 200-387
Cottonseed meal 230 149-285
Fish meal 135 11-421
Herring meal 158
Meat and bone meal 88 7-364
Molasses:
- beet 441 43-838
- cane 1080 737-1930
Dried yeast 462 90-1070
Dried distillers' solubles 400 200-680
Grass meal 366 227-459
Lucerne meal 543 196-779
-Manioc (tapioca, cassava) 51 5-7
Biological availability
The availability of biotin from most cereal products is very low and it may be completely
unavailable. The exception is maize where the biotin is fully available. The following table lists
the average biological availability of some feed materials.

Feed ingredient Biotin availability

(%)
Wheat 5
Barley 20
Oats 40
Maize 100
Manioc (tapioca, cassava) 5
Rice bran 25
Wheat middlings 6
Soya been meal 100
Rape seed meal 70
Sunflower meal 40
Fish meal 100
Meat meal 100
Dried yeast 100
Skim milk powder 65
Whey 100
Grass - lucerne meal 65
Molasses 75

Stability
Biotin is a very stable vitamin, normally unaffected by mill processing including pelleting. It is
affected by oxidised fat and by alkaline pH. No overages are needed in feed production to allow
for processing losses.