Iron deficiency in outdoor pig production.
It has been claimed that outdoor-reared suckling piglets do not need iron supplementation. According to practical experience, outdoor-reared and non-iron-supplemented piglets show a lower performance in comparison with their iron-supplemented counterparts. The purpose of the present study was to determine the effect of iron supplementation on outdoor-reared suckling piglets. In a large Hungarian outdoor pig production unit, 4691 piglets were assigned to one of two treatment groups. Piglets in group 1 (n = 2344): received no iron supplementation, whereas piglets in group 2 (n = 2347) were intramuscularly injected in the neck on day 3 post-partum with 1.5 ml of Ferriphor 10% solution (TAD Pharmaceutical GmbH, Bremerhaven, Germany). Animal weights, morbidity, haemoglobin concentration and mortality were recorded and analysed. At weaning the iron-injected piglets were significantly (P < 0.05) heavier. The iron-supplemented piglets also revealed significantly (P < 0.01) less pre-weaning morbidity and mortality and higher (P < 0.01) blood haemoglobin concentration compared with the non-injected ones. This study suggests that in order to prevent pre-weaning losses and support piglet health and weight performance, iron supplementation should be administered to piglets in outdoor pig production units.
Szabo
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Konsulentenbüro für Krisenmanagement in der Schweinezucht, Dübendorf, Switzerland.
Bilkei
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D018798:Anemia, Iron-Deficiency / Q000401:mortality / Q000662:veterinary*; D000822:Animal Husbandry / Q000379:methods*; D000818:Animals; D000833:Animals, Suckling / Q000254:growth & development; D001835:Body Weight; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D005260:Female; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000378:metabolism; D007501:Iron / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008297:Male; D013552:Swine / Q000254:growth & development*; D013553:Swine Diseases / Q000401:mortality*; D013557:Switzerland
D006454:Hemoglobins; D007501:Iron