DRESDEN, Ont. — Providing supplementary iron to piglets is routine in Canada’s swine industry. What producers may not realize is that a second injection may be help boost productivity.
Dr. Robert Friendship cited work by graduate student Amanda Kubik in making the assertion.
“If we got everyone to evaluate iron and then do something about it, it could be worth millions to the Canadian swine industry,” he said.
“It’s an area that hadn’t been looked at for years and needed to be reinvestigated.”
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Friendship said 60 pigs on 20 different farms were tested for iron levels in hemoglobin at three weeks and six weeks of age. Chosen were the largest and smallest pigs in litters along with a mid-sized pig.
It was found that five to 10 percent of the pigs were anemic, had low iron levels, at three weeks of age. Three weeks later that increased to 10 to 25 percent on some farms while on others the anemia concern was resolved.
The tests were necessary for an accurate measurement. In addition there were no visual signs of iron deficiency, unlike pale-pig situations in which the initial injection was missed entirely.
There were also differences among the farms and so producers should not assume they have a concern. However, Friendship is confident the numbers reflect the overall situation in Canada.
He suggested producers work with their veterinarian to conduct their own evaluations.
“Maybe chose the bigger, faster growing pigs. If they’re fine, probably the others are fine as well,” he said.
It’s possible that productivity gains over the years have led to a corresponding increased requirement for iron. Piglets are born with limited reserves, enough for about five days.
“We’ve changed the pigs we raise. They grow faster and have higher requirements and we have sows milking more. The sows deliver the protein and energy but not the iron,” Friendship said.
If they were outdoors, the piglets would possibly obtain iron from the soil, he noted.
Most iron is now delivered with an injection a few days after birth. The standard rate is 200 milligrams and should not be exceeded even if iron deficiency is a known concern.
“When we inject the little pigs you should be careful. It’s dangerous to give them more,” Friendship said.
“What I see as a likely solution would be giving the second injection of iron, another 200 milligrams, at two or three weeks of age.”
Ideally the second injection should be given about a week before weaning. However, for convenience’s sake, it might be provided when the pigs are being handled for some other reason.
Once weaned, iron is delivered through the feed but pigs that have suffered once in their lifetime from anemia never regain their full potential. They’ll grow slower and are more susceptible to disease.
Another result from the study related to difference between farms. On some, pigs that tested low for iron at three weeks recovered, while on others the situation grew worse.
The reason may lie with different rates of iron absorption but Friendship is not sure.
It could be linked to farmers feeding high levels of zinc oxide to help prevent E. Coli infections; the treatment may somehow interfere with iron absorption.
It may also be related to the form of iron being fed. Some types are more readily absorbed than others.
