Learnings from on-site anemia measurements with HemoCue 201 in piglets around weaning

Newborn piglets are at risk for developing iron deficiency because they are born with limited iron stores and sow milk provides them with only ±1 mg of iron per day. Iron deficiency leads to anemia characterized by a low concentration of iron-containing hemoglobulin (Hb) in red blood cells. Therefore, iron administration to piglets within the first week of life is common practice in pig farms. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of iron supplementation method (1) and age at sampling (2) on the Hb concentration in piglets at weaning.

Seventeen sow herds were included. Piglets were weaned at either 3 weeks (3W, n = 14 farms) or 4 weeks of age (4W, n = 3 farms). From the farms weaning at 3W, nine treated piglets via intramuscular injection of 200 mg iron (3W-IM) and five supplemented iron via the drinking water (3W-PO). Farms weaning at 4W treated the piglets with 200 mg iron via injection (4W-IM). Two farms (3W-IM and 3W-PO) reported clinical signs of anemia in suckling piglets. At each farm, 20 piglets belonging to one farrowing group were selected randomly at weaning ±3 days. The Hb concentration of each piglet was measured on-site using a HemoCue 201+ analyzer (HemoCue® Diagnostics B.V., The Netherlands). Data were analyzed via the KruskalWallis test because Hb concentrations after oral supplementation were not normally distributed.

Based on all data (n = 340 piglets), 27% of piglets showed anemia defined as Hb concentration < 9 g/dL. The highest percentage of anemic piglets was found on farms with oral supplementation (52%). The average Hb concentration and 95% confidence interval were 9.9 [9.7-10.1] (3W-IM), 8.7 [8.2- 9.2] (3W-PO) and 10.1 [9.8-10.4] (4W-IM). The Hb concentration was lower in the 3W-PO group compared to the 3W-IM and 4W-IM groups (p< 0.01). No difference was observed between 3W-IM and 4W-IM (p=0.54).

Our study reveals that anemia in suckling piglets is still quite common. The Hb concentration at weaning was significantly affected by the method of iron supplementation. Oral supplementation resulted in a lower average Hb concentration and a higher variation between piglets compared to injection. This is possibly due to variable water intake by suckling piglets. We hypothesized a lower Hb concentration at 4W compared to 3W but this was not confirmed. The piglets included in this study were fed ad libitum with creep feed. Next, we want to investigate whether the uptake of creep feed (as a source of iron) has a positive effect on the Hb concentration in 4-week old piglets. The HemoCue was shown to be a useful tool for on-site monitoring of iron deficiency anemia.

Disclosure of Interest: None Declared.