Diarrhea caused by iron deficiency anemia and slowed growth rate are very common. What are the iron supplementation techniques for piglets in winter and spring?

Iron is one of the important trace elements in pigs and is a crucial raw material for synthesizing hemoglobin, myoglobin, and various oxidases. If this raw material is lacking in pigs, piglets will develop iron deficiency anemia. According to data, the iron reserves in newborn piglets are only 30mg to 50mg, while nursing piglets require 7mg to 8mg of iron daily for growth, but they obtain less than 1mg of iron daily from sow's milk. Therefore, piglets within one month of age relying solely on iron from sow's milk without other supplementation are prone to anemia, diarrhea, and developmental infertility caused by iron deficiency anemia. Normally, piglets experience a physiological anemia period; if iron supply is insufficient or untimely, it is difficult to pass through this period. During the lush grass period in summer and autumn, sows and piglets grazing or supplemented with green fodder can obtain a certain amount of iron from the grass. However, in winter and early spring when green fodder is severely lacking, piglets lose the opportunity for natural iron supplementation, making it difficult to overcome physiological anemia, leading to severe iron deficiency anemia, death, or poor growth and development.

1. Symptoms of Iron Deficiency Anemia

Piglets can develop iron deficiency anemia throughout the year, with more cases in winter and spring. Generally, in closed breeding systems, piglets under one month old (especially nursing piglets within 2 to 3 weeks of birth) are more frequently affected. Affected piglets show lethargy, isolation from the group, lying down, reduced appetite, malnutrition, rough hair coat, normal or slightly low body temperature, pale visible mucous membranes, grayish-white ears under light, almost no visible blood vessels, minimal bleeding upon pinprick, increased respiration and pulse, and panting after slight activity. Some piglets appear well-fleshed and grow normally but suddenly collapse and die during activity. Pinprick bleeding from the ear vein shows pale, thin blood that is difficult to clot.

2. Preventive Measures

First, strengthen the feeding management of nursing sows by supplementing feeds rich in protein, vitamins, and minerals, with special attention to iron, copper, zinc, and other trace elements. You can also place feeding trays containing red soil or dried deep soil in the pigpen for piglets to lick freely. Additionally, iron supplementation can be done through injections. For a few breeding piglets, dextran iron or iron-cobalt injection can be administered at 3 days old.

3. Treatment Methods

(1) Oral iron supplementation. Common iron preparations include ferrous sulfate, ferric pyrophosphate, ferrous lactate, and reduced iron. To promote iron absorption, ferrous sulfate is often combined with copper sulfate. The method is: mix 2.5g ferrous sulfate, 1g copper sulfate, and 1kg water; piglets are given 0.25ml orally per kilogram of body weight once daily for two weeks. Alternatively, 100g ferrous sulfate and 20g copper sulfate can be ground into a fine powder and mixed with 5kg fine sand or red soil, then scattered in the pigpen for piglets to eat freely.

(2) Injection iron supplementation. Common iron preparations include dextran iron, iron-cobalt injection, and sorbitol injection. Generally, 2ml of dextran iron or iron-cobalt injection is given by deep intramuscular injection once for cure; if necessary, a half dose can be injected intramuscularly again after one week.

4. Precautions

(1) The iron supplementation amount should be appropriate. Excessive iron intake can inhibit the absorption of other trace elements such as zinc and magnesium in the intestines. Excess iron absorption can deposit in certain organs like the heart, liver, and pancreas, causing hemosiderin deposition.

(2) During iron supplementation, pause or reduce feeding certain feeds such as shell powder, bone meal, calcium carbonate feeds, and tannin-containing feeds like sorghum and wheat bran to avoid reducing the effectiveness of iron supplementation.

(3) During iron supplementation, avoid concurrent use of certain drugs containing aluminum, magnesium, or calcium, as they can form insoluble complexes or precipitates with iron in the intestines. Tetracyclines can form complexes with iron; chloramphenicol can reduce or negate iron's effect; anticholinergic drugs can affect iron absorption; potassium iodide, carbonates, tannin proteins, etc., can precipitate with iron; vitamin E can bind iron and inactivate it, among others.

(4) When using ferrous sulfate, it should be ground and administered immediately without prolonged exposure to air to prevent oxidation into toxic ferric iron.