Comparison of Iron Supplements for the Prevention of Anemia in Young Pigs

Crete Koate® product originally intended to be utilized for absorbing excess moisture and reducing knee abrasions of baby pigs raised in confinement, was tested as a hematinic for young pigs. Four treatments were studied: (1) T-NI, pigs receiving no iron; (2) T-IS, pigs receiving a 2 ml intramuscula...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Hieronymus, Steve
Format: Others
Published: TopSCHOLAR® 1977
Subjects:
Online Access:https://digitalcommons.wku.edu/theses/2489
https://digitalcommons.wku.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=3483&context=theses
Description
Summary:Crete Koate® product originally intended to be utilized for absorbing excess moisture and reducing knee abrasions of baby pigs raised in confinement, was tested as a hematinic for young pigs. Four treatments were studied: (1) T-NI, pigs receiving no iron; (2) T-IS, pigs receiving a 2 ml intramuscular injection of iron-dextran at 2 days of age; (3) T-CK, pigs raised in pens treated daily with Crete Koate; (4) T-ISCK, pics receiving an intramuscular injection of iron-dextran on day 2 whose pens received daily treatments of Crete Koate. Hemoglobin levels were used as an indicator of iron status in the body and weights were used as a measure of production. Blood samples taken at 14 days of age revealed differences (P<.01) in hemoglobin levels among treatments. Those treatments supplying iron, T-IS, T-CK, and T-ISCK, maintained higher (P>.01) hemoglobin levels than the control, T-NI. Weights did not significantly differ among treatment groups at either 14 or 28 days (P>.10). There was no observable difference in 'Knee scuffing among treatments. However, those pens receiving Crete Koate appeared to stay drier and cleaner. Results of this study suggest that Crete Koate may be capable of supplying iron for hemoglobin synthesis and production equivalent to that of iron-dextran.