December 16, 2010
Iron supplementation in indoor pigs is well-known best practice
to prevent iron deficiency. In outdoor pigs, however, the effect of
iron supplements has been questioned. The common belief is that
access to an outdoor environment allow piglets sufficient soil
intake to prevent iron deficiency. Recent evidence establishes new
grounds.
A recent study aimed at establishing solid
understanding of the effect of iron supplementation in outdoor pigs
- and the results presented in a Poster at the International Pig
Veterinary Society congress held this June 2010 were
surprising.
The study was undertaken by DVM Richard Pearson
in a large commercial unit in Southern England. The objective was
to evaluate productivity parameters following iron injections of 1
ml of Uniferon 200 mg/ml in outdoor piglets approximately 48 hours
after birth.
The results showed that
routine iron injection with Uniferon significantly increases
piglets' weight at weaning. This benefit is thought to be mediated
through improved blood parameters in iron treated piglets. As
improved weaning weight is strongly correlated with post weaning
performance this is a valuable achievement. The author concluded
that Uniferon iron supplementation improved the
return-on-investments by 10:1.
Of the results say DVM Richard Pearson "Discussions of the
benefits of 200 mg iron supplementation to outdoor pigs used to
come down to matter-of-opinion rather than matter-of-fact. So to
explore this issue and see the clear results with significant
benefits for weaning weight is both surprising and interesting. It
calls for more iron supplementation studies in outdoor piglets to
built further evidence."
Uniferon partner in UK Mr. Sam Black, who supported the study,
is pleased to have taken part in a study with such an importance
for iron treatment to outdoor piglets: "We were excited to
support and follow the study and positively surprised by the
results that so clearly demonstrate the benefits of supplementing
iron to outdoor piglets."
Want all the facts? If you wish to read the Poster in full
please download it here:
About Uniferon
Uniferon is a modern improved iron hydrogenated dextran based on
a natural formula, which is approved for global use:
Uniferon is manufactured without the use of any organic solvents
or cyanide, thus, avoiding trace residues of these impurities.
Pharmacosmos manufactures iron dextran of high quality and unique
purity for customers worldwide. Uniferon is the only injectable
iron brand for piglets approved in the EU, the US and Asia.
About Pharmacosmos
Headquartered in Denmark, Pharmacosmos is a family-owned,
international healthcare company with more than 50 years of
innovation and leadership in iron- and carbohydrate-based
treatments and solutions for human and animal use.
A research-based company, its ongoing R&D programme focuses
on improving the lives of patients with iron deficiency with or
without anaemia. More than 1 billion people live with iron
deficiency anaemia and it is the leading cause of death for an
estimated 180,000 people every year. This makes it one of the
largest global health challenges of our time.
Pharmacosmos has subsidiaries in the Nordics, the UK and the US
and its products are marketed in more than 80 countries across the
world. Its manufacturing facilities are approved, among others, by
the Danish Medicines Agency and the US FDA.