[Effect of different source iron on piglet's growth, metabolism and environment]

In order to approach the effect of different source Fe on piglet's growth, metabolism and environment, an experiment was conducted with 158 suckling pigs from 15 litters, which were randomly allocated to group I, II and III, and fed with diet I (basal diet + FeSO4.H2O), II (basal diet + Fe-citric acid) and III (basal diet + Fe-methionine complex), respectively. Each of the diets contained 146 mg.kg-1 Fe. The results show that after the experiment ended, the body weight, daily increment, grades for appearance and behavior, hemoglobin concentration in blood, Fe-transferring albumen concentration in plasma, and Fe contents in plasma and liver of 35 days old piglets in group II and III were higher (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01) than those in group I, while the feed conversion, diarrhea incidence, fecal amount and its Fe content of the piglets in group II and III were lower (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01) than those in group I. The body weight and daily gain of the piglets in group III were also higher (P < 0.05) than those in group II, but no significant differences (P > 0.05) in other traits between group II and III. It is suggested that Fe-methionine complex and Fe-citric acid could improve piglet's health, growth and development, feed conversion, and physiological and biochemical parameters, increase the absorption and utilization of Fe by piglet's body, and decrease the fecal amount and its Fe content. Both of them should be effective and safe Fe sources for suckling pigs.