Biotin is a water-soluble B vitamin that contributes to the health of hooves and connective tissues such as ligaments and tendons. Biotin is necessary for keratin synthesis and contributes to healthy coat and skin. Supplementing with 20 mg daily may improve hoof growth and quality.
Mad Barn Biotin Powder is a B vitamin supplement used to promote hoof health and coat quality. It is highly palatable and easy to incorporate into a horse's diet.
Biotin, also known as vitamin B7, acts as an enzyme cofactor. This means that it participates in the activity of many enzymes , including those involved in the metabolism of carbohydrates, lipids, and proteins.
Biotin supports the production of keratin , the most important structural protein in hooves . Biotin supplementation helps horses maintain optimal levels of keratin in their hooves, hair, and connective tissue , which contributes to their structural integrity and growth.
Because it is present in such small amounts in most animal feeds, biotin supplementation is recommended for horses with hoof problems. It will also be beneficial for horses with weak joints or poor coat and skin condition .
Biotin is recommended for horses with dry, cracked, or brittle hooves, horses that frequently pull their shoes, or horses suffering from chronic laminitis. For horses recovering from laminitis or with a damaged toe, biotin will help accelerate hoof growth and improve hoof quality.
Horses and other mammals cannot synthesize biotin in their cells, and it must therefore be supplied through their diet. Biotin is present in small amounts in forage and can be produced by microbes in the horse's intestine.
Fresh alfalfa has the highest levels of biotin, while grains such as oats, barley, soybean meal, and corn have moderate to low levels. Horses on prolonged high-grain diets or those that eat mostly dried hay will benefit from a biotin supplement.
Hindgut microbes produce a small amount (1-2 mg per day) of this vitamin that can be absorbed for use by horses. Horses with hindgut problems related to grain consumption, colic, oral antibiotics, or old age may benefit from biotin supplementation to compensate for low hindgut production.
A strict biotin requirement has not been established for horses. However, studies have shown that a typical 500 kg horse needs at least 20 mg per day to see benefits for hoof growth and strength.
A single scoop (4 grams) of Mad Barn Biotin Powder provides 20 mg of biotin. Our Omneity and AminoTrace+ complete vitamin and mineral supplements also provide 20 mg of biotin per serving, so there's no need to provide supplemental biotin to your horse if they're already taking one of these products.
Biotin deficiency is extremely rare in mammals and has not been reported in horses. However, suboptimal levels have been correlated with problems in horses , such as white line, crumbling, and cracked horns.
In one study, 10-30 mg of biotin per day improved the integrity and hardness of the hoof wall of the monitored horses and faster hoof wall growth was found. [1]
It can take up to eight months of daily supplementation to see permanent changes in hoof quality. This is because hoof growth and the replacement of poor-quality tissue is a slow process. Other factors such as insulin resistance, recurrent laminitis, and seasonal changes can also affect the quality of your horse's hoof.
A balanced approach with regular, high-quality hoof care and a balanced diet is likely to be most beneficial for hoof health.