A comparison of 4 iron supplementation protocols to protect suckling piglets from anemia

Pigs are routinely supplemented with iron during the suckling period to prevent anemia, but recent studies have shown that despite iron treatment many fast-growing pigs are iron deficient at weaning. The objective of this study was to determine if oral iron supplementation provided free-choice from a week of age until weaning could prevent iron deficiency. Results showed that the industry standard treatment of a single iron injection at 4 days of age did not always prevent iron deficiency at weaning, indicating the need to provide additional iron to fast-growing suckling pigs either orally or by a second injection. It appears that providing piglets daily access to iron-enriched peat moss or injecting a second 200-mg dose of iron intramuscularly are both effective in meeting the piglets iron requirements during the suckling period.