Effects of Second Iron Injection on Piglet Growth and Health
Author Information
Author(s): Alaina J Johnson, Wenli Li, Barbara I Dittrich, Aleah C Cole, Marie K Prodell, J Wesley Lyons, Scott A Fritz, Priscila Fregulia, Chi Chen, Chan Ho Kwon, Young Dal Jang
Primary Institution: University of Wisconsin-River Falls
Hypothesis
Does a second iron injection improve growth performance and health parameters in suckling piglets fed different dietary iron levels?
Conclusion
The second iron injection for suckling pigs improved postweaning growth performance and hemoglobin levels while affecting the fecal microbiome.
Supporting Evidence
- The second iron injection increased liver iron content at weaning.
- Pigs receiving the second iron injection had a greater final body weight and overall growth rate.
- The second iron injection reduced fecal bacterial alpha-diversity at weaning.
- An additional 100 ppm of dietary iron increased hemoglobin levels in the late nursery period.
- The second iron injection improved hemoglobin and hematocrit levels until day 13 postweaning.
Takeaway
Giving piglets a second shot of iron helps them grow better and stay healthier after weaning.
Methodology
70 newborn piglets were assigned to treatments with either 1 or 2 iron injections and different dietary iron levels, and their growth and health were monitored.
Potential Biases
Potential bias due to the involvement of a company that manufactures the iron product used in the study.
Limitations
The study had a limited number of replication pens, which may affect the generalizability of the results.
Participant Demographics
70 newborn piglets from 7 litters, including 40 males and 30 females.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.05
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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