[Importance of oral iron supplementation in piglets in the first hours of life].

An early supply of iron is essential for newborn piglets due to the predisposition to anaemia in neonates of this species. The present study shows that iron can be given orally if a suitable preparation is used. After oral administration of iron within the first six hours of life, hemoglobin and packed cell volume are higher on the 10th day of life compared to the second. Also, the percentage of anaemia is significantly lower in piglets with oral iron supplementation than in piglets given iron injections on the third day of life. The oral iron preparation investigated in this study is therefore superior to other preparations. However, a second dose of iron on the 10th day of life is necessary independent from mode of administration of the first iron dose. The second dose is always given via injection due to insufficient intestinal absorption of iron in the 10-day-old piglet.