Haemoglobin status in outdoor piglets and effects of administration of iron dextran
1994
Brown, J.M.E. | Edwards, S.A. | Smith, W.J. (SAC Aberdeen (UK))
Value of administering supplemental iron to piglets in modern outdoor systems has been the subject of debate. In a detailed herd study, 550 piglets in 49 litters were used, in a split litter design experiment, to determine the effects of injection of 2 ml of iron dextran at 2-4 days after farrowing. Administration of iron slightly increased blood haemoglobin levels at weaning (12.3 v 11.9, sed .14 g/100 ml, p0.01) but had no significant effect on piglet survival or growth rate to weaning at 22 d (172 v 178, sed 4 g/d). Liveweight gain of individual piglets was significantly influenced by litter and birthweight (p0.001), but was unrelated to blood haemoglobin level. Behavioural observations made during three hour afternoon periods indicated that time spent outside the hut increased progressively with age (0, 1.5, 12.5, 18 percent of time in weeks 1 to 4 respectively) allowing opportunity for soil ingestion. To assess the incidence of anaemia in outdoor systems, a survey was carried out involving 9 different herds in North East Scotland. Blood samples taken from 10 three week old piglets in each herd failed to detect any animals with a haemoglobin level of less than 6 g/100 ml, considered to be indicative of anaemia. There were significant differences between herd means (highest 12.4, lowest 8.4, sed 0.5 g/100 ml, p0.001) which were related to soil iron content. These results indicate that administration of supplementary iron to suckling piglets is unlikely to provide any benefit in the great majority of outdoor situations.
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