Combined treatment with vitamin A and iron to prevent 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.