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Plasma Iron and Total Iron-Binding Capacity in Piglets in Anemia and Iron Administration

National Institute of Animal Industry, Chiba, Japan

Abstract

This study was conducted to clarify the variations of plasma iron (PI) and total iron-binding capacity (TIBC) due to anemia and the effects of oral or parenteral iron administration during the early stage of growth.

PI levels at birth, 1 and 3 days of age were lower than that reported for older pigs. TIBC values were extremely low at birth and 1 day of age and increased slightly at 3 days of age, but were still less half of the levels found in older pigs. In the unsupplemented group, PI level and hemoglobin concentration were consistently lower than in the groups receiving oral ferrous fumarate throughout the suckling period (P<.01). TIBC increased sharply at 10 and 20 days of age. Afterwards, it decreased linearly until 40 days of age and remained relatively constant thereafter. TIBC was significantly higher at 10 and 20 days of age in the unsupplemented group than in groups receiving ferrous fumarate (P<.01). Percent PI was below 10% from 10 to 40 days of age. It was consistently lower until 30 days of age in the unsupplemented group than in groups receiving ferrous fumarate (P<.01). Thus, the pigs in the unsupplemented group had typical symptoms of iron deficiency throughout the suckling period. In pigs receiving ferrous fumarate orally, PI level increased markedly at 10 days of age and was variable thereafter. TIBC increased until 20 days of age and thereafter it remained relatively constant. TIBC in the group given excess iron was lower than that in those receiving the recommended amount of iron. When iron administration was stopped, PI level decreased markedly. Thus, oral iron administration for a short term does not produce a continuous effect of preventing iron deficiency anemia. In pigs receiving iron-dextran intramuscularly at 3 and 20 days of age, UIBC paralleled that in pigs receiving iron orally. In pigs offered soil containing iron as 8% of the soil dry matter and which, by 0.1 N HCl extraction yielded iron amounting to 705 ppm of the soil dry matter, PI level rose rapidly to 10 days of age and was variable thereafter. TIBC paralleled that of the unsupplemented group. The increase of hemoglobin was slow. Thus, the biological availability of iron from soil to the pig may be poor.

¹ Laboratory of the Physiology of Meat Production.

² The author wishes to acknowledge with thanks Mr. Kobayashi, Department of Forage Crops, National Grassland Research Institute, for his valuable instructions on soil analysis.

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