The effect of supplementing sow and piglet diets with different forms of iron

Abstract

-The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of chelated iron supplementation on gestating and lactating sows and on their suckling and weaned piglets. Reproductive traits, piglet performance, hematological parameters, and the iron concentrations in colostrum, milk, and stillborn livers were measured. Ninety-six sows were subjected to one of three treatment groups. Group T1 comprised pregnant and lactating sows treated with diets supplemented with inorganic iron (551 mg Fe/kg) and suckling piglets administered 200 mg of injectable iron dextran. Group T2 was the same as T1, except that sows after 84 days of gestation, lactating sows, and suckling piglets were fed a diet supplemented with 150 mg Fe/kg of chelated iron, and suckling piglets were administered injectable iron dextran. Group T3 was the same as T2 but without injectable iron dextran for suckling piglets. During the nursery phase, all of the weaned piglets were penned with their original groups or treatments and received isonutritive and isocaloric feeds. Piglets from the T2 and T3 groups also received an additional 150 mg Fe/kg of chelated iron via their feed. There were no differences among the treatments for reproductive traits or the iron concentrations in the colostrum, milk, or liver. The piglets that did not receive the injectable iron dextran showed the poorest performance during the pre-and post-weaning phases and showed the poorest hematological parameters of the suckling piglets. The chelated iron supplementation is insufficient to meet piglet demand. The iron dextran supply is necessary for suckling and weaned piglets.

Effect of Oral Supplementation of Healthy Pregnant Sows with Sucrosomial Ferric Pyrophosphate on Maternal Iron Status and Hepatic Iron Stores in Newborn Piglets

“…Poor availability of iron in newborn piglets occurs due to extremely low level of hepatic iron stores (the lowest in mammalian neonates) [ 14 , 29 , 55 , 58 , 59 , 60 , 61 , 62 ] and low iron content in the colostrum/milk [ 63 ], accompanied by inefficient absorption of dietary iron [ 55 ]. On the other hand, high iron needs are determined by unusually rapid rate growth of piglets (they increase 10-fold their body mass within 6 weeks of birth) [ 15 , 55 , 60 , 61 , 64 ]. The concept of replacing routine, largely non-physiological postnatal parenteral supplementation of piglets with iron dextran [ 65 ] by administration of iron to pregnant sows to prevent suckling animals from becoming anemic has emerged in several studies [ 66 ].…”

“…For example, the pig model of neonatal iron deficiency anemia (IDA) meticulously reflects the main etiological factor of this defect observed in pre-term human neonates, that is, those having critically low iron content in their livers [14]. Since the molecular potential of iron uptake from the diet in neonates is greatly reduced [15] hepatic iron stores established through maternal-fetal transfer represents the primary source of this microelement to cope with the metabolic demands of developing organisms in the neonatal period. In both, pig term and human preterm neonates insufficient initial iron stores are considered a primary and probably most important etiological factor in the development of neonatal IDA.…”

One Iron Injection Is Not Enough—Iron Status and Growth of Suckling Piglets on an Organic Farm

“…Although there is no information on the rate of iron absorption after subcutaneous injection, Kolb et al [10] have shown that iron dextran is absorbed more slowly from adipose tissue than from muscle, thereby avoiding excess iron in the circulation. Oral application of iron has been found to be inferior to injection due to lower absorption rates and faster depletion of iron reserves after application [11], but it is of low risk because absorption is left to homeostatic regulation. However, the current regulations for organic farming only allow the application of non-organic iron sources [5].…”

Can iron work for pigs as a booster?

“…Rapid growth causes a demand for 50-70 mg in the first weeks of life. Moreover, sows' milk usually provides piglets with iron below their requirements (~1-2 mg of iron daily) [7,8,9]. Since contemporary sows farrow more piglets, which additionally are heavier at weaning, their raise in good health condition becomes challenging [10,11].…”

“…Apart from oxidative stress in tissues, excess iron may cause lower feed intake and impairment of essential trace mineral absorption owing to the competition for common intestinal transporters. In order to ensure that a selected therapy has a positive effect on growth performance and production parameters several studies were conducted [9,12,18,19,20,21,22,23,24,25,26,27,28]. Svoboda and Drabek (2004) report that 3-day--old piglets injected with iron showed significant increase in haematological parameters (Hb, MCV, MCH, MCHC, PI) on the 21st day of life, whereas piglets from no treatment group developed hypochromic anaemia [29].…”