Effect of Per Os Iron Lactate Supplement on Development of Haematological Profile of Piglets in the Early Postnatal Period

Abstract

Svoboda M., J. Bouda, J. Drabek, J. Doubek: Effect of Per Os Iron Lactate Supplement on Development of Haematological Profile of Piglets in the Early Postnatal Period. Acta Vet. Brno 2004, 73: 431-436. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of oral administration of Fe lactate (LaFe) on the postnatal development of haematological indices of piglets. The first group of 39 piglets received an oral dose of 134 mg/piglet Fe 2+ in the form of lactate paste (LaFe) on day 3 of life. The administration was repeated on day 10 after birth. A classical treatment, e.g. single i.m. administration of 200 mg Fe 3+ /piglet in the form of dextran (DeFe) was carried out in the second group of 30 piglets on day 3 after birth. A group of 20 untreated piglets served as anaemic control. At the end of week 1, highest values of Hb, PCV and MCH were found in the lactate group (p < 0.01). At the age of 14 days, significantly higher plasma concentration of Fe and higher RBC were found in piglets supplemented with lactate paste ( p < 0.01). On day 28 of life significantly higher values of most haematological indices were recorded in the group with i.m. administration of DeFe (p < 0.01). The two groups did not differ in their somatic development. In control piglets anaemia occurred on day 7 after birth. Although the administration of lactate Fe on days 3 and 10 of life positively influenced haematological values in the first three weeks of piglet life, in the fourth week symptoms of depletion of Fe reserves occurred. Anaemia of piglets, iron, blood picture, piglet growth