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Biotin studies in pigs. 3. Biotin absorption and synthesis
J S Kopinski1, J Leibholz, W L Bryden
1Department of Animal Husbandry, University of Sydney, Camden, New South Wales, Australia.
Abstract:
Eight pigs were given a semi-purified diet based on maize flour and casein containing 10 micrograms biotin/kg. The diet was given ad lib. with or without a supplement of 70 micrograms biotin/kg diet from 5 to 94 d of age. The flow of biotin in the stomach was similar to the biotin intake (13.5 and 112 micrograms/d) for the unsupplemented and biotin-supplemented pigs respectively. The flow of biotin through the small intestine decreased for the biotin-supplemented pigs from 39 micrograms/d in the first quarter of the small intestine to 7.9 micrograms/d in the last quarter. The flows of biotin in the caecum, large intestine and colon were similar for both the unsupplemented and biotin-supplemented pigs, with values of 17-54 micrograms/d, indicating the synthesis of biotin in the hind-gut.