Iron Deficiency Anemia (IDA) in sows an emerging problem

Daniel Sperling, Nicolas Guerra, Stanimir Dimitrov

Abstract: The aim of this study is to provide information on the prevalence of Iron Deficiency Anemia (IDA)
in sows and risk factors associated with parity for prevalence of IDA in weaning piglets in important
pig-producing countries in the EU countries.
A survey was conducted in ten EU countries (Denmark, Poland, Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany,
Austria, the Czech Republic, France, Italy and Portugal). Total 637 sows of different parity
were included in the assessment of hemoglobin (Hb) levels at weaning of their corresponding litters at
randomly selected farms that were willing to participate in the survey. The corresponding level of Hb
of three selected piglets per litter (small, medium, large piglet) was measured at weaning. Hb levels
were measured using the portable analyzer HemoCue Hb 201+. The current criteria for assessment
of anemia based on Hb levels were used: anemia < 9 g/dL, subclinical status 9 – 11 g/dL and optimal
Hb level > 11 g/dL for piglets and 10 g/dL for sows. High level of IDA in sows was observed, where
47.1% sows (300/637 in total) were anemic at weaning. Piglets from first and second parity sows were
at risk of IDA at weaning compared to higher parity sows (p = 0.0063), with IDA being confirmed in
17.4% of piglets from this particular sub-group.
In our study IDA is a common problem in sows on European farms, with more than 47% of sows
reported as being anemic at weaning. Piglets from young sows (first and second parity) had the highest
percentage of anemic piglets at weaning, so special attention should be paid to these animals.

Keywords: Anemia; hematology; HemoCue; IDA; sows

Date published: 2021-10-27