Iron deficiency is one of the most common issues in newborn piglets and can impair growth and overall health before and after weaning. This study evaluated how different iron injection frequencies (no, one, or two injections of 200 mg iron) during the suckling period influenced pre- and post-weaning growth, hemoglobin levels, antioxidant status, and whole-body iron retention in piglets from two sire lines. Increasing number of iron injections improved pre- and post-weaning growth performance with the greatest weaning weight and growth rate observed in piglets that received two injections. They maintained higher hemoglobin levels from d 15 of age through d 14 postweaning. Increasing iron injection frequency led to increased iron retention in organs and the whole body, confirming that the administered iron was effectively stored. Antioxidant capacity was enhanced with the additional iron injection. Piglets with no iron injection had iron deficiency anemia, resulting in reduced growth, lower iron retention, and decreased antioxidant capacity. However, hemoglobin levels recovered after 4 wk in the nursery. Although differences were observed in growth and hemoglobin levels between the two sire lines, whole-body iron retention was similar. Overall, administering a second iron injection before weaning improved growth, hemoglobin levels, antioxidant capacity, and iron stores in piglets.

Read the full article in the Journal of Animal Science.