Iron Metabolism in Piglet Anaemia

Abstract

Summary The administration of iron to sows during pregnancy did not materially alter the size or composition of their offspring. The administration of iron to lactating sows did not raise the percentage of iron in their milk. It has been found in these experiments that a piglet contains about 50 mg. of iron at birth; a piglet must retain about 7 mg. of iron per day to grow at a normal rate without becoming anaemic; the milk of the sow cannot be expected to supply more than 1 mg. per day; even in concrete sties piglets may retain 4 mg. of iron per day. The amounts of iron found in the liver at birth were insufficient to make any serious contribution to the requirements of the body during the three following weeks. The administration of iron to piglets during the first three weeks of life made them take more milk and grow more quickly, and greatly increased the amounts of iron found in the blood, in the liver and in the rest of the body. The body of a piglet, reared outside with free access to soil, contained more iron than the bodies of those which had been given iron medicinally. The soil was found to contain 1.5 per cent. of iron, and the digestive tract of the piglet contained 0.5 g.