1. Evaluation of the potential benefits of iron supplementation in organic pig farming
- Author
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Prunier, Armelle, Pauwels, Maud, Leblanc-Maridor, Mily, Jaillardon, Laetitia, Belloc, Catherine, Merlot, Elodie, Physiologie, Environnement et Génétique pour l'Animal et les Systèmes d'Elevage [Rennes] (PEGASE), AGROCAMPUS OUEST-Institut National de Recherche pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement (INRAE), Biologie, Epidémiologie et analyse de risque en Santé Animale (BIOEPAR), Institut National de Recherche pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement (INRAE), édération des laboratoires d'analyses vétérinaires d'Oniris (Laboniris), This research was financially supported by the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under the grant agreement No 727495 (project CORE Organic Cofund)., European Project, Institut National de Recherche pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement (INRAE)-Institut Agro Rennes Angers, Institut national d'enseignement supérieur pour l'agriculture, l'alimentation et l'environnement (Institut Agro)-Institut national d'enseignement supérieur pour l'agriculture, l'alimentation et l'environnement (Institut Agro), École nationale vétérinaire, agroalimentaire et de l'alimentation Nantes-Atlantique (ONIRIS)-Institut National de Recherche pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement (INRAE), Fédération des laboratoires d'analyses vétérinaires d'Oniris (LabOniris), and École nationale vétérinaire, agroalimentaire et de l'alimentation Nantes-Atlantique (ONIRIS)
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inflammation ,outdoors ,Feeding and growth ,animal diseases ,[SDV]Life Sciences [q-bio] ,suckling piglet ,Anaemia ,Articles ,Health and welfare ,haemoglobin ,indoors ,Research Article - Abstract
Background: Iron from the stock acquired during foetal life and the ingestion of milk is not sufficient to cover the needs of the piglets during their first weeks of life. In organic farming, systematic supplementation with iron is problematic due to a strong limitation in pharmaceutic treatments. Methods: Erythroid parameters around weaning were measured in piglets from organic outdoor and indoor farms, and related to indicators of the inflammatory status. Blood samples were collected from 28.9±2.6 piglets/herd at 42.0±3.2 days of age and 11.9±3.0 kg live weight (mean ± SD) in 21 farms from the west part of France. Among the 11 outdoor farms, only one had supplemented piglets with 200 mg iron while among the 10 indoor farms, only one had not supplemented piglets, one had supplemented them with 100 mg, 8 with 200 mg and one with 400 mg. Results: Compared to outdoor piglets without supplementation, piglets kept indoors and receiving 200 mg iron had lower haemoglobin concentration (105 vs 118±2 g/l, mean ± SE) and red blood cell volume (56 vs 60±1 fl) (P Conclusion: With the exception of soils where the content of bioavailable iron is very low, piglets from outdoor farms do not require iron supplementation, unlike those raised indoors.
- Published
- 2022
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