Iron supplementation in piglet anaemia

Abstract

A total of 111 Large White/Berkshire cross piglets in 14 litters was used for iron supplementation studies. Of 87 piglets supplemented with iron, 30 received Ferri et Ammonii Citrate orally, and 57 iron-dextran intramuscularly. Twenty-four untreated piglets were kept as controls. The blood haemoglobin levels fell within four days after birth by 30 per cent. or more, and reached the lowest level usually by the second or third week. Symptoms of anaemia were diarrhoea, paleness, listlessness and respiratory distress. Oral therapy with Ferri et Ammonii Citrate was not as effective as parenteral administration of iron-dextran in restoring the haemoglobin levels. The ease of administration, rapidity of response and the need for only one treatment favour the use of iron-dextran in the prevention and treatment of piglet anaemia. Because sow's milk is a poor source of nutritional iron, it is important that piglets should be introduced at the earliest age possible to iron-supplemented creep feeding.