Biotin deficiency in mink fed spray-dried eggs

Area of Science:

• Animal Nutrition
• Dermatology
• Veterinary Medicine

Background:

• Biotin deficiency in mink can manifest as greying underfur, vision impairment, fur loss, and skin lesions.
• Commercial feed ingredients, such as spray-dried eggs, may pose a risk if not properly processed.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the cause of biotin deficiency symptoms in mink fed spray-dried eggs.
• To determine the efficacy of biotin supplementation in preventing these deficiency symptoms.

Main Methods:

• Young standard dark mink were fed diets containing varying percentages of spray-dried eggs.
• Control groups and supplemented groups received varying levels of d-biotin.
• Clinical signs of deficiency and pelt quality were monitored over a 4.5-month period.

Main Results:

• Mink fed 10% spray-dried eggs developed classic biotin deficiency symptoms.
• Mink fed 5% spray-dried eggs showed milder symptoms and lighter pelt coloration.
• Biotin supplementation effectively prevented deficiency symptoms in mink fed both 10% spray-dried eggs and 20% fresh frozen whole chicken eggs.

Conclusions:

• Spray-dried eggs contain active avidin, necessitating biotin supplementation in mink diets.
• Inadequate heat treatment of spray-dried eggs is the likely cause of biotin inactivation.
• Proper biotin supplementation is crucial for maintaining mink health and pelt quality when using spray-dried eggs in feed.