Effects of oral administration of iron dextran to lactating sows on the growth performance of suckling piglets
Wang Zhiyao
Cheng Aolong
Wang Ben
Wan Dan
Wang Yong
Xu Bangwei
Liu Hongyan
Abstract：The experiment aimed to investigate the effect of oral administration of iron dextran to lactating sows on the growth performance of suckling piglets.A total of 36 sows near parturition were randomly divided into two groups,each with nine replicates of two sows per replicate.The sows in the control group were fed a basal diet,and their piglets were intramuscularly injected with 2 mL of iron dextran injection at 3 days postpartum.In the experimental group,sows were fed the basal diet supplemented with 50 mg/kg of iron dextran powder.The pre-trial period lasted one week,followed by a formal trial period of 21 days.The results showed that compared with the control group,the average daily gain of piglets in the experimental group was not significantly different(P＞0.05),while the hemoglobin concentration was slightly increased(P＞0.05).Compared with the control group,the contents of iron,immunoglobulin G(IgG),immunoglobulin M(IgM),total protein,and insulin-like growth factor-1(IGF-1)in the milk of sows in the experimental group were significantly elevated(P＜0.01).The study indicates that oral administration of iron dextran to sows can serve as an alternative to injectable iron supplementation for piglets.
Keywords：SowPigletIron dextranGrowth performanceIron supplementation
Publication Date：2026-01-15
Online Publishing Date：2026-03-05(First online date of this platform, not the publication date of the document)
Pages：5( 36-40 )