Iron Deficiency Anaemia

Causal agent	Iron deficiency
Age group	3 to 6 weeks. Sows deficient may produce stillborn piglets
Clinical signs
	Pale pigs which are hairy, particularly in the nursery
	Reduced feed intake and weight gain
	Increase in other conditions – diarrhoea, Glässer’s for example
	Pigs may demonstrate laboured breathing
Adults	Increased stillborn rates in iron deficiency in the diet
Post-mortem Lesions
	Anaemia with thin watery blood. Possibly enlarged fatty liver with ascities
	Sow milk naturally deficient in iron. Pigs born normal and goes into an iron deficiency crisis by 2-3 weeks of suckling iron deficient milk
Diagnosis
	Reduced haemogloblin level less than 70g/l – normal 90g/l
	Response to treatment
	Check sow iron levels – less than 9 mmol/l
Treatment
	Ensure iron injections correct – 100-200 mg injection within first week post-farrowing
	Check when the iron is being administered
	Ensure Vit E levels in the sows – can result in iron toxicity problems
	Note there is generally no need to provide supplemental iron to outdoor reared pigs.
Common differentials
	Gastric ulcers, Ileitis.