Gastrointestinal flora in iron-deficient piglets

The pH and microflora of the contents of the stomach and small intestine were studied in iron-treated and iron-deficient piglets. Compared with their iron-treated littermates, the gut contents at several sites in iron-deficient animals had a higher pH and contained greater numbers of coliforms, lactobacilli, total aerobes and total anaerobes. The possible relationship of these findings to previous findings in such animals and to their high incidence of diarrhoea is discussed.