It is very difficult to determine the real needs of livestock because of the uncertainty surrounding the value of ruminal and caecal synthesis. Logically, active animals, mobilising energy at a rapid rate, need more thiamine than resting animals. Very young, growing animals need 500 g thiamine per day for every kg liveweight, whereas fattening animals need only 50 g. Lactating or working animals require about 250 g per day and per kg liveweight. Thiamine-deficient animals should be given ten times their normal allowance by injection. This needs to be repeated every two to four days since excess thiamine is excreted via the urine and not stored.
Most vegetable products contain some thiamine.
It is often concentrated in the outer layers of seeds, seed germ and growing areas of roots, leaves and shoots. Fermentation products are good sources. 3.6 Stability Thiamine is affected by hot, humid conditions. The extent of breakdown increases as the storage temperature increases above 20 C, particularly if there is free moisture in the air or in the feed. Losses during pelleting increase as the conditioning temperature and moisture contents increase.