Combined treatment with vitamin A and iron to prevent piglet anemia

Abstract

Objective: To determine if vitamin A enhances the effect of iron in preventing piglet anemia. Materials and methods: Neonatal pigs (n = 96) from crossbred sows were assigned to three treatments, with four replicates per treatment. Treatments consisted of control (no iron), 200 mg injectable iron (iron dextran) at 2 days of age (Day 2), and 200 mg injectable iron (iron dextran) with 2000 IU oral vitamin A (vitamin A palmitate) on Day 2. The study was continued until Day 21. Blood samples were collected on Days 1, 7, 14, and 21, and liver and spleen samples were collected on Day 21. Hemoglobin concentration, hematocrit, total iron-binding capacity, and iron concentration were measured in plasma, liver, and spleen samples. Body weight was recorded on Days 0 and 21. Deaths were recorded through the study. Results: Weight gain and mortality did not differ significantly between pigs treated with iron alone and pigs treated with both iron and vitamin A (P > .05). Hemoglobin concentration, hematocrit, and iron concentration in plasma, liver, and spleen samples in pigs treated with both iron and vitamin A were higher, and total iron-binding capacity was lower, than in pigs treated with iron alone (P < .05). Implications: Iron nutrition status is better in piglets provided with both iron and vitamin A than in piglets treated with iron alone. The combination of vitamin A and iron is more effective than iron alone in preventing piglet anemia.